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Introduction

The WA Premier's climate change action plan of 2007 called for renewable energy generation in the South West Interconnected System to be at least 6% by 2010, 15% by 2020 and 20% by 2025.

One of the Albany turbines at sunset

It is on a very scenic section of the south coast of Western Australia. There is a parking area, several viewing areas, and a few kilometres of pleasant walking trails at the base of several of the turbines. There is a trail connecting to the Bibbulmum track.

Good views can be seen of places as far away as the Porongorup and Stirling ranges from one of the hill lookouts.

The Albany wind farm is owned by Verve Energy, from whom came much of the data for this section.

On 18th February 2008 the ABC reported that Verve Energy plans to increase the output by adding another six turbines. Milton Evans, Mayor of Albany, has said that the existing wind farm generates about 50% of Albany's electricity. (He also said that there was the possibility of wave power development.) With the new turbines wind could supply up to 90% of Albany's power needs.

SalientEnergy.com reported that "local officials last week approved" the increase in the size of the wind farm (2008/10/29). Also it seems the six new turbines are to be of 2.3 MW each. SalientEnergy also reported that "Verve will make the final decision on the $40 millon expansion by early next year".

Sometimes called Walkaway wind farm

This wind farm has the, so far as I know, otherwise unheard of capacity factor of 47%. This means that the amount of electricity generated is 47% of the rated capacity of the wind farm. A more typical c.f. is 30%, although I believe 35% is not unusual in Australia. Miles George of Babcock and Brown Wind Partners also informed me that this c.f. is the best for all of B&B's 79 wind farms.

The Development Application was filed in June 2008. The proponents say that "The turbines will be situated on previously cleared farm land and have minimal environmental impact during and after the construction phase. Some turbine sites may require minor vegetation clearing however this will be avoided wherever possible." The Development Application also state that the project is strongly supported by the relevant landowners.

Griffin has a Net page on the wind farm.

The Development Application states that most of the winds are from the south and south-east, with less, but signifacant winds, from the east and north-east.

Denmark wind farm

The newsletter of December 2008 included the following:

"For decades Denmark has been supplied with electricity via the State electricity grid, generated by coal and gas-fired power stations more than 400km away. Being near the end of such a long transmission line, Denmark continues to experience power quality and reliability issues, including occasional extended blackouts in some areas. Population growth and more appliances being connected means that the need for a more reliable and robust supply has reached a critical level. The proposed windfarm will feed into the grid, helping to improve its quality and reliability, reducing Denmark's 'carbon footprint', and delivering social and environmental benefits. Western Power, which is responsible for maintaining energy infrastructure, sees the windfarm as the centrepiece of its multi-million dollar program to upgrade the local power network over the next few years."

Federal Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, announced on 2008/10/16 funding of $1.4 million dollars for this project.

Considering the $1.4 million government grant it seems likely that the Denmark project will be the first Community wind farm in Australia. They are much more common in some European countries, including (ironically) Denmark.

News
2009/03/26 - ABC On-line News

The Denmark Community Wind Farm Group insists that the project will not go ahead anywhere else.

Esperance wind farms

Salmon Beach wind farm

The last remaining Salmon Beach turbine in the foreground, Nine Mile Beach turbines visible in the background. The Salmon Beach turbine no longer operates, it has been left for historical interest. Photo taken from a lookout at the south of Esperance.

Nine Mile Beach wind farm

Nine Mile Beach turbines

Ten Mile Lagoon wind farm

Ten Mile Lagoon turbines on left. Some of the Nine Mile Beach turbines are barely visible in the distance on the right.

This wind farm consists of two 600kW Enercon E-40 wind turbines.

The ABC again reported on the wind farm on 28th July 2008 saying that it had been opened, its total cost was Au$5m ($2m of which came from the Commonwealth Government), and that it was expected to "meet a third of Kalbarri's power needs and offset about 5 000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year."

Powercorp were also involved in the development of this project, apparently supplying voltage control equipment.

I emailed Verve Energy seeking more information on this wind farm; didn't receive a reply.

Kalbarri also has a 20kW photovoltaic system, consisting of 256 panels. The angle of the panels is automatically adjusted six time a day to follow the sun as it crosses the sky.

Pacific Hydro's page on this wind farm can be accessed via their home page.

It is expected that the project will have an operational life of 30 years.

According to the Rottnest Island Authority, the wind turbine produces about 35% of the power needed on the island. Wind turbines had been tried unsuccessfully some years ago, but until the installation of the current one, the island had been reliant on diesel-generated power. Apparently some of the power from the turbine is used to desalinate sea water for the island's water supply.

If and when these wind farms look likely to be built, and as I get more information, I will write them up in more detail. If any readers have information concerning this wind farm I would appreciate a note, my email address is at the top of this page.

Until a wind farm gets at least to the point where an application for approval has been submitted to the relevant authority it may be little more than wishfull thinking and is not worth covering in more detail than that below.

Wind farms that have been proposed in WA