Hepburn Energy Park
Project overview
Hepburn Energy Park (previously known as Hepburn Wind) is Australia’s first community-owned wind project.
The Hepburn Energy Park’s two turbines known as Gale and Gusto have been producing enough clean energy to power 2,100 homes and have become an iconic part of the Hepburn Shire since 2011.
Project history
The wind turbines are owned by the community through Hepburn Energy. This community energy group co-operative manages the wind turbines, provides financial returns to its members and importantly funds community projects through an Impact Fund.
Hepburn Energy’s founders were determined to build a renewable energy project that would supply the grid with energy equivalent to local electricity demand.
With over $13.3m invested, $9.9 million of which was raised by over 2000 community investors, and an anticipated working life of over 25 years, the project is one of the most significant projects undertaken locally in recent decades.
With immensely significant local community investment, a large proportion of the ongoing profits of the project will remain in the region.
Project timeline
The turbines were ordered in December 2009, and a full construction contract was signed in April 2010. The turbines were erected in March 2011 and began generating power in June 2011.
In 2022, Flow Power secured wind offtake from Hepburn Energy to create a special residential retail offer: Power Renewable Home – Hepburn.
Flow Power’s offer is a 100% Green Power, links energy usage to the wind generation at Hepburn Energy Park, and through a partnership with Hepburn Energy, is exclusively available to the local Hepburn Shire community and Hepburn Energy co-op members.
Hepburn Energy (formally Hepburn Wind) has been powering change in energy and renewables for over a decade.
With development spanning over seven years, the project created new employment and skill development for local staff, service providers and dozens of volunteers.
It empowered many in the community with a sense of pride and purpose. This is now amplified through the Hepburn Z-NET program which has the community wide goal of zero-net emissions by 2030.
Hepburn Energy is an entirely women run wind farm and employs three part-time local staff in the management of the co-operative. They are supported by a board of seven co-operative members.
With Flow Power as the energy retailer, the Hepburn Shire community and Hepburn Energy members have the opportunity for a closer link to local renewables.
Before the two turbines were built, most of the electricity used in the area was generated from fossil fuels, transmitted through ~400 km of power lines from the coal-fired power stations in the Latrobe Valley.
Since June 2011, Gale and Gusto have been generating clean energy in Leonards Hill and feeding it directly into the grid.
Engaging and benefiting the community since 2005
From 2005, Hepburn Energy and the Hepburn Renewable Energy Association worked hard to build a strong base of support within the community to bring the project to life. This included significant education and engagement campaigns to build support and raise the funds needed.
Since construction, the co-operative has ensured that wind farm is a community asset, and that the community can attend events and tours out at the farm.
Over the past decade of operations, the co-operative has delivered over $300,000 in community grants to over 60 projects, leveraged over $5,000,000 in associated programs, and donated over 100 kW of rooftop solar on community buildings.
The co-operative is now leading with Council and local groups and experts Hepburn Z-NET. Which has the shared ambition the be the first zero-net emissions municipality in Australia by 2030. To this end they are delivering and partnering on community programs to support this and to modal community-led climate transition.
Putting the power back in your hands since 2009
