How wind power grew in Australia
Australia's first wind farm was Salmon Beach, near Esperance in Western Australia. The State Energy Commission ran it from 1987 on the town's local power system, and in July 1993 the state government still called it the nation's only wind farm. It was decommissioned in 2002. Nearby Ten Mile Lagoon, with nine 225 kW turbines, was officially opened in March 1994. It was expected to save about 1.9 million litres of diesel a year.
The Mandatory Renewable Energy Target aimed for 9,500 GWh by 2010. Enough capacity existed by 2007, investment fell sharply, and a turbine assembly plant in Tasmania and a blade plant in Victoria closed. The target was expanded in 2009, and in 2015 the large-scale target was cut to 33,000 GWh. It was met in January 2021, and the scheme ends in 2030. Large farms now belong to owners such as Goldwind Australia, Tilt, Squadron and Neoen. At 530 MW, Stockyard Hill in Victoria was the largest fully operating farm in December 2025.
Wind generated 39.2 TWh in 2025, 13.7% of Australia's electricity. For the east coast grid, the market operator's 2026 plan calls for 30 GW of onshore wind by 2030 and 9 GW offshore by 2040. About 18 GW of new wind is needed by 2030, but only about 9 GW is in the connection pipeline. The national target is 82% renewable electricity by 2030.
Sources: Government of Western Australia · Synergy · Government of Western Australia · Office of Impact Analysis · Clean Energy Regulator · Clean Energy Council · Ember · AEMO
Where Australia's power comes from, 2025
| Source | Share of electricity |
|---|---|
| Coal | 42.7% |
| Solar | 19.7% |
| Gas | 16.4% |
| Wind | 13.7% |
| Hydro | 4.3% |
| Other fossil fuels | 2.2% |
| Bioenergy | 1.1% |
Wind farms in Australia
We track 316 wind farms in Australia: 15.1 GW operating and 250.3 GW under construction, consented or planned, with 63.2 GW of it offshore. Each one's owners, turbines and status are in the Wind app.
Electricity data: Ember yearly electricity data (CC BY 4.0). Wind farms: national registers and Global Energy Monitor; see data sources.
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