Rye Park Wind Farm
Client: Vestas Australian Wind Technology Pty Ltd
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Date: 2023–24; wind farm officially opened 2025
Providing hold point testing, GPS compliance assessment and preliminary model validation services for successful connection of a 396 MW wind farm
Background
Rye Park Wind Farm, located in the Southern Tablelands of NSW, comprises 66 x 6 MW Vestas wind turbine generators with a combined capacity of 396 MW at its point of connection (POC). At the time of opening, this was the largest wind farm in the state, featuring some of the biggest turbines, with a blade tip height of 200 m.
Entura supported our client, Vestas, to facilitate the wind farm’s connection to the grid by meeting the essential regulatory requirements.
Solution
Vestas engaged Entura to provide support throughout the testing and commissioning phase of the project. During commissioning, there are several hold points where the generating system output is constrained to a pre-defined megawatt level during commissioning. A test report is required for each hold point, which is submitted to AEMO and the relevant network service provider for review and approval, before continuing further commissioning activities. This process enables staged capacity release in a controlled manner, and involves a varying number of hold points, depending on the size of the generating system.
Entura conducted pre-test simulations for each hold point to confirm the anticipated wind farm responses were safe and likely to meet performance requirements. Any potential areas requiring heightened operational focus were highlighted during the testing. Preparation of load profiles and test schedules prior to testing allowed for smooth and efficient completion.
Drawing on our library of standardised analysis and assessment tools, as well as our familiarity with hold point and R2 model testing, Entura conducted the assessment in a time-effective manner. We seamlessly delivered appropriate checks and compliance assessments for each hold point, allowing the wind farm to increase generation output for the next hold point level.
Entura’s pragmatic approach included preliminary model overlays at each hold point rather than undertaking all model overlays later in the project at the R2 stage. This enabled early identification of any emerging challenges around model accuracy, which allowed smooth progress through individual hold point testing, with the full model validation undertaken during the R2 phase.
Services provided
- Pre-test simulations
- Load profiles and test schedules
- Generator Performance Standards compliance assessments (GPS)
- Preliminary model validation
Outcomes
Entura’s expertise and experience in GPS compliance assessments and model validation were key to delivering this project successfully. Our hold point and GPS compliance assessment reports clearly demonstrated satisfactory and compliant wind farm performance as well as acceptable model performance and accuracy at each hold point in line with AEMO’s power system modelling guidelines. The hold point and GPS compliance assessment reports were delivered in a timely manner and subsequently received smooth approvals from AEMO, building on Entura’s strong record of delivering high-quality testing and validation work that meets all regulatory requirements.
Close collaboration between Vestas and Entura throughout the hold point testing and commissioning phase ensured the wind farm gained approval for commercial operation at full output. Construction began in 2021 and the wind farm was officially opened in May 2025.
Tilt Energy says that the wind farm is expected to provide significant local and regional economic benefits and to generate enough energy to power the equivalent of approximately 215,000 homes and prevent an estimated 960,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
