Pyrenees Shire’s Stockyard Hill Wind Farm will boast 21 more turbines than Waubra Wind Farm and generate 338 more megawatts of power – enough for 340,000 homes.

The wind farm, near Lake Goldsmith, about 50km west of Ballarat  is expected to be operational by 2019.

Planning Minister Richard Wynne on Wednesday approved a planning amendment which would see the number of turbines drop from 157 to 149, with an increased height of up to 180 metres. 

The increased height will mean the turbines can generate power more efficiently, My Wynne said.

Stockyard Hill’s 149 turbines are expected to generate 530 megawatts of power.

“This amendment means the Stockyard Hill Wind Farm will still be able to power hundreds of thousands of Victorian homes – but with fewer turbines,” Mr Wynne said. 

The wind farm was sold by Origin Energy to Chinese company Goldwind Global in May for $110 million. A purchaser agreement between the two companies will see Origin buy the power generated at Stockyard Hill until at least 2030. 

A separate permit granted on Wednesday will pave the way for a 75-kilometre transmission line to connect the wind farm to the national grid, while a new quarry on the wind farm site will provide rock for foundations and roads – reducing the number of trucks on local roads during construction.