Australia’s first community wind farm is to be built in Mount Barker, providing enough energy for the town when it is completed in February.
Behind the venture is Advanced Energy Resources, a subsidiary of the Castelli Group, which is controlled by Sam Castelli, who previously co-founded the engineering company United Construction.
Sam Castelli’s son Luca is in charge of the Advanced Energy division.
Advanced Energy said the 800 kilowatt wind farm will be built on private property north of Mount Barker.
Some 70 per cent of the $8.5 million wind farm was directly funded from the Great Southern region.
The wind farm will reduce the amount of greenhouse gases being pumped into the atmosphere by more than 8,000 tonnes per year.
The Castelli Group was founded 10 years ago as a property group and entered the wine business in 2006.
The move into renewable energy came from Luca Castelli’s studies in renewable energy engineering and electrical engineering.
“The Castelli Group’s intention was always to be involved in the renewable energy business,” Luca Castelli said.
“We were looking to diversify and we always had an interest in the power generation sector, so to us that was the most sensible option.
“It’s something that we felt passionately about.”
Blake Wilshaw
