Akuo Energy has announced an "updated and improved" turbine layout for the 132MW state significant development Granite Hills Wind Farm, which is proposed to be built at Steeple Flat, 12km south-east of Nimmitabel.

Akuo said the layout was revised following detailed consultation with neighbours, local community members, independent environmental specialists, state departments and other crucial advisors such as telecommunication infrastructure owner Broadcast Australia.

The new project design guarantees a sizeable reduction in the number of turbines with nine turbines being removed from the original layout of 32.

"In designing the new layout, we voluntarily committed to avoid the sensitive eastern side of the site, closer to the South East Forests National Park altogether, and removed four turbines from that area," Shane Quinnell, business developer for Akuo Energy Pacific said.

"When compared to the previous 32 turbine layout, this new design creates a number of positive changes for the community and environment."

He said those improvements included significantly increasing the distance from turbines to neighbouring houses; reduces the number of turbines by about 30 per cent; positions the nearest turbine 50 per cent further away from the communications tower; and reduces impact from public and private viewpoints.

Mr Quinnell said the 132MW wind farm would generate enough clean energy to power around 50,000 homes for approximately 25 years.

The new proposed height of each of the 23 turbines from the base of the tower to the highest tip of the blades is 230m. It was originally planned to be 200m.

(Editor's note: A previous version of this article stated the new height as 220metres based on information supplied to us by Akuo. This has since been corrected by the company)

"Turbine efficiency and power output increase significantly with size and height. The small increase to turbine tip height and size enabled the project team to significantly cut the number of turbines in the design while more or less maintaining the total power output of the project," Mr Quinnell said.

"The increase in tip height of the turbines is expected to improve the visual amenity, noise emissions and environmental credentials of Granite Hills Wind Farm.

"There are fewer turbines to see and they have been moved away from houses, roads and the escarpment on the eastern section, at the Bega end of the project. Four turbines were removed in this area which is expected to dramatically diminish what could be seen in the Bega Valley Shire, compared to the previous layout.

"A reduction in the number of turbines also reduces the overall project infrastructure required. This in turn greatly reduces the potential disruption to birds and wildlife in the area.

Mr Quinnell said Akuo is currently preparing the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) with potential impact on water supply, flora and fauna, bushfire control, visual and noise amenity, along with many other criteria, all being carefully considered by independent specialists.

"We are designing the project to be as positive as it can possibly be and are proud of the improvements we have been able to make to date."

Once the EIS is reviewed by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, the community will be given their opportunity to review and make submissions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed some of the studies required, but the EIS is expected to be finalised near the end of 2020 and the submission available for public feedback around mid-2021.