Macarthur Wind Farm — Australia

Macarthur Wind Farm is a 420 MW wind power station in Victoria, Australia. It is operated by AGL Energy Pty Ltd. Based on reported annual generation of 1,048 GWh, it can supply roughly 299k homes. It ranks #58 of 536 Australia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2013, it is around 13 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 AUS0000417.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000906055; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 420 MW, Macarthur Wind Farm is well above 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

28%, from 1,048 GWh of reported generation; the median for 43 wind plants in Australia that report generation is 34%

Generation trend

578 GWh in 2013 and 1,048 GWh in 2018 (+81%)

Highest and lowest year

2014: 1,066 GWh; 2013: 578 GWh

Share of Australia wind capacity

7.3% of 5,786 MW across 65 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

24 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 AGL Energy Pty Ltd. All plants by this company →

Local climate & thermal context

This wind plant converts the kinetic energy of wind into electricity through turbine rotors. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 38.1°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 31% 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: 38/100 — this site sits in the mid 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 humidity / wetness 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 #2 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

• Tarrone GT power station · Gas · 600 MW · Victoria
• Yambuk Wind Farm · Wind · 30 MW · Victoria
• Codrington Wind Farm · Wind · 18.2 MW · Victoria
• Mortons Lane Wind Farm · Wind · 20 MW · Victoria
• Mortlake · Gas · 584 MW · Victoria
• Oakland Hills Wind Farm · Wind · 67 MW · Victoria

Location

Coordinates -38.0648, 142.1844 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions