Cathedral Rocks Wind Farm — Australia

Cathedral Rocks Wind Farm is a 66 MW wind power plant in South Australia, Australia. It is operated by TRUenergy & Acciona Energy. Based on reported annual generation of 153 GWh, it can supply roughly 44k homes. It ranks #232 of 536 Australia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2007, it is around 19 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, wind supplies about 13.7% of Australia's electricity; the national grid averages 525 gCO₂/kWh (38.6% low-carbon) (2025).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id AUS0000063.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000906220; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 66 MW, Cathedral Rocks Wind Farm is around the median wind plant in Australia (66 MW). Technically it is described as Onshore. Wind turbines convert moving air into electricity; output is variable and site-dependent, and modern turbines deliver some of the lowest-cost new generation on many grids.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Key facts

Load factor

26%, from 153 GWh of reported generation; the median for 43 wind plants in Australia that report generation is 34%

Generation trend

178 GWh in 2013 and 153 GWh in 2018 (−14%)

Highest and lowest year

2014: 199 GWh; 2018: 153 GWh

Share of Australia wind capacity

1.1% of 5,786 MW across 65 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

13 of 43 dated wind plants in Australia are older

Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).

Reported generation trend

Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Owner

Operated by TRUenergy & Acciona Energy.

Local climate & thermal context

This wind plant converts the kinetic energy of wind into electricity through turbine rotors. It sits in a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 34.9°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Monthly mean temperature

Heating degree-days here run 59% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.

Climate heat-demand index: 26/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.

Site climate & environmental severity

This site sits in a corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with marine corrosion the leading environmental stress.

Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.

How it compares & nearby plants

The #33 largest wind power plant of 65 in Australia by capacity.

Australia has 65 wind power plants in this dataset, together about 5,786 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Port Lincoln · Oil · 73.5 MW · South Australia
• Mount Millar Wind Farm · Wind · 70 MW · South Australia

Location

Coordinates -34.8509, 135.5852 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions