Decommissioning a wind farm is a detailed process that involves dismantling the wind turbines and restoring the site to its original condition. Prior to the end of the operational stage, funds are set aside for decommissioning activities and a decommissioning plan is prepared to ensure compliance with any agreements and conditions of approval. This plan outlines how the wind farm will be dismantled and restored, including timelines, methods, and any environmental considerations. The decommissioning plan must be approved by relevant regulatory authorities, ensuring compliance with current legislation and environmental regulations.
During decommissioning, the wind turbines, site office and any other related infrastructure will be removed from the site. Foundations will be removed to at least half a meter below ground level to allow for agricultural activities to resume above. The landholder can request to retain the access tracks if considered useful for their agricultural operations. In some cases, electrical infrastructure (e.g. substations) may remain on site if owned by the network service provider and if being used by other projects.
Learn more: Winding Up: Decommissioning, recycling and resource recovery of Australian wind turbines (Clean Energy Council)
