The Wind of Change: My Journey in Wind Project Development, From Australia to the Global Horizon

Insight: From a distance, wind turbines may look like simple machines turning in the breeze. But behind each one lies years of strategic planning, environmental care, and community dialogue. My journey in Australia taught me that wind energy isn’t just about capturing a natural force—it’s about aligning technology, nature, and people to build a truly sustainable future.

Driving the Energy Transition with Wind Power

The global energy transition is one of the defining challenges—and opportunities—of our era. Wind energy stands out as a crucial pillar: it’s abundant, zero-emitting during operation, and increasingly cost-competitive. Over four years developing wind projects in Australia, I witnessed firsthand how wind doesn’t just power turbines—it drives community engagement, innovation, and resilience. In this blog, I share insights reflecting on global trends shaping the future of clean energy, along with my personal journey in wind project development

Wind Energy: A Cornerstone of the Net-Zero Future

Wind energy plays an indispensable role in decarbonizing power systems. By harnessing a natural, renewable force, it provides carbon-free electricity that displaces fossil fuels and dramatically reduces greenhouse gas emissions. As outlined in the International Energy Agency’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 scenario, annual wind capacity additions must more than double over this decade to meet our climate goals. The urgency is clear: scaling wind energy is central to building a sustainable, secure energy system for future generations.

Who’s Leading the Charge in Wind Energy?

Globally, a few countries are leading the charge. China remains the world leader, having added approximately 76 gigawatts (GW) of wind capacity in 2023, including 5 GW from offshore wind farms—a scale enabled by the government’s ambitious 14th Five-Year Plan. In the United States, incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act have catalyzed investment, positioning the East Coast to launch its first large-scale offshore wind farms in 2024. Meanwhile, European Union countries like Germany and Spain are accelerating deployment as part of the REPowerEU plan, adding 15 GW of capacity last year to address energy security and climate imperatives. These global trends reinforce wind power’s central role in the green transition (IEA, 2024).

Do You Know What the World’s Largest Onshore Wind Turbine Is?

At the same time, turbine technology is evolving rapidly. The world’s largest onshore wind turbine, the Sany SY17210, boasts an 11-megawatt (MW) capacity, a 172-meter rotor diameter, and a towering height that enables exceptional energy generation. Larger turbines capture more wind and generate more electricity, improving the economics of wind projects and reducing the number of turbines needed per site. These innovations are transforming what’s possible in project design, scale, and cost-efficiency.

Wind Project Development, Step by Step

Developing a wind project is a complex, multi-year endeavor that blends technical rigor with strategic coordination. It begins with identifying a suitable site, evaluating wind resources, and understanding grid proximity. Next comes land access, environmental and technical studies, and stakeholder engagement—especially with local communities and authorities. Permitting and regulatory approvals can span years, often requiring detailed environmental impact assessments and climate resilience modeling. Financing arrangements, whether through debt or equity, demand robust financial modeling and risk assessments. Only then does construction begin, leading eventually to operation and maintenance. In most regions, an onshore wind project can take between three to seven years from concept to commissioning.

Behind the Scenes of Wind Development: My Journey in Australia

My four years working in Australia’s dynamic wind sector gave me a deep, firsthand understanding of this lifecycle. As a Commercial and Contracts Manager at the OEM Senvion, I was responsible for securing profitable contracts, leading bid strategies, and ensuring internal alignment across technical and legal teams. I refined cost modeling processes and implemented improvements in risk assessment and pricing strategy, which helped streamline project approvals and enhance decision-making.

Later, as senior development manager at Someva in Sydney, I led the Hills of Gold Wind Farm through critical development phases. I oversaw technical and environmental studies, ensuring compliance with the State Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) and best practices in wind design. A key focus was strengthening community engagement, which we approached through close collaboration with local stakeholders and tailored communication strategies. I worked hand-in-hand with the community manager and managing director to build trust and address concerns related to biodiversity, noise, and visual impacts. Together with GIS specialists, flora and fauna experts, and wind engineers, we developed a layout that balanced optimal energy generation with minimal environmental disruption.

We also incorporated climate resilience into the design—assessing potential bushfire risks and implementing safeguards to protect critical infrastructure. On the commercial side, I supported  negotiations with turbine suppliers to reduce capital costs and supported the capital-raising process by coordinating the technical documentation required for due diligence. The project, now part of ENGIE’s portfolio, represents a milestone in my career and a demonstration of what thoughtful, inclusive, and technically rigorous wind development can achieve.

Archivo Fotografico

Why Wind Energy Is Key to Scaling Green Hydrogen?

Wind energy’s role extends far beyond electricity generation—it’s increasingly pivotal in the production of green hydrogen. By using wind power to run electrolyzers, hydrogen can be produced from water with near-zero emissions. This green hydrogen is vital for decarbonizing heavy industries such as steel, ammonia, and long-haul transport. Co-locating wind farms with hydrogen production facilities enhances system efficiency and reduces transmission losses. As hydrogen demand grows, wind energy will be a cornerstone of clean molecule supply chains.

What Happens When Wind Turbines Retire?

Another critical question for the industry is what happens when wind farms reach the end of their useful life—typically after 20 to 25 years. Increasingly, developers are turning to repowering: replacing old turbines with newer, more efficient models. This approach boosts generation without requiring new sites or permits. Blade recycling remains a technical challenge due to composite materials, but promising solutions like pyrolysis and solvolysis are emerging. Organizations like the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Re-Wind project are pioneering circular economy pathways to ensure sustainability across the wind project lifecycle.

Who’s Powering the Wind Industry? Meet the Global Turbine Giants.

Globally, the turbine supply landscape is led by a mix of Western and Chinese firms. Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, GE Renewable Energy, Nordex Acciona, and Enercon are well-established players known for quality and innovation. In parallel, Chinese companies like Goldwind, Envision Energy, and Mingyang Smart Energy have rapidly expanded their market share, offering competitive, high-capacity designs and integrated services. These manufacturers are not only advancing turbine technology—they’re shaping the pace and geography of wind development worldwide.

Key Project Insights from My Australian Experience

My time developing wind projects in Australia offered invaluable lessons that apply across the renewable energy sector. These aren't just technical takeaways but principles that underscore successful project delivery:

• Design is Paramount: The fundamental layout of a wind farm isn't just about placing turbines; it's a strategic blueprint. Every single variable—from wind resource and grid connection points to topography, noise impacts, and shadow flicker—must be meticulously studied and integrated. A well-optimized design, carefully considering these multifaceted elements from day one, forms the bedrock of a viable and high-performing project.

• Community Engagement is Non-Negotiable: Successful projects don't just happen to communities; they happen with them. Building strong, transparent relationships and ensuring local stakeholders feel genuinely heard and involved is crucial. When communities become part of the project's journey, understanding both its benefits and how potential impacts are being mitigated, it fosters trust and resilience against challenges.

• Environmental Stewardship and Financial Viability Go Hand-in-Hand: One of the most powerful lessons I learned is that minimizing environmental impact doesn't have to compromise financial viability. Through innovative design, careful siting, and close collaboration with environmental specialists, it's possible to protect biodiversity, manage natural risks like bushfires, and still deliver a robust economic return. It truly shows that thoughtful, sustainable development isn't just an ideal—it's an achievable reality.

Wind energy is a present force transforming the global energy system. My years in Australia provided a unique vantage point to understand its full development arc, from site selection and permitting to financing and stakeholder management. Today, I remain committed to applying this expertise to help scale wind energy solutions around the world. In doing so, I hope to contribute meaningfully to a more sustainable, inclusive, and decarbonized future.