Wind power in Australia Totally Explained

Everything about Wind Power In Australia totally explained

Wind power in Australia is clean and renewable and a typical wind turbine can meet the energy needs of up to 1000 homes. The technology is proven, fast to build and economical compared with other renewable energy technologies. There were 42 wind farms operating in Australia as at February 2007. Australia is the highest emitter of greenhouse gases per capita in the developed world and wind power is well placed to grow and deliver greenhouse gas emission cuts on a cost competitive basis. A typical 50 megawatt (MW) wind farm in Australia can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 65,000 and 115,000 tonnes a year.

Overview

Australia has excellent wind resources by world standards. The southern coastline lies in the roaring forties and hundreds of sites have average wind speeds above 8 or even 9 m/s at 50 m above ground (hub height of a modern wind generator). Southwest Western Australia, southern South Australia, western Victoria, northern Tasmania and elevated areas of New South Wales and Queensland all have very good wind resources. Several states engaged in systematic wind speed monitoring in the 1980s and 1990s, the results of which are publicly available. Australian wind farms produce on average capacity factors of 30-35%, making wind an attractive option in the country.
At the end of 2007, Australia had installed electricity generation capacity from wind power of 824 MW and nationally wind farms contributed about 1% of total electricity production. In the state of South Australia, this figure is much higher at about 9%.
In 2007, there were 42 wind farms operating in Australia. Some of the largest wind farms in Australia are:

Lake Bonney Wind Farm (SA) - 239.5 MW
Brown Hill Range Wind Farm (Hallett, SA) - 94.5 MW
Wattle Point (SA) - 90.75 MW
Alinta/Walkaway (WA) - 90 MW
Emu Downs Wind Farm (WA) - 80 MW
Mount Millar Wind Farm (SA) - 70 MW
Cathedral Rocks (SA) - 66 MW

The 195 MW Portland Wind Project and the 192 MW Waubra Wind Farm, both in Victoria, when completed in late 2008, will be among the largest wind farms in Australia. Australia's first commercial wind farm, Ten Mile Lagoon Wind Farm near Esperance in Western Australia, has been operating since 1993.
For a full listing of all the wind farms in Australia, please see List of wind farms in Australia, and the relevant state articles:

List of wind farms in New South Wales

List of wind farms in Queensland

List of wind farms in South Australia

List of wind farms in Tasmania

List of wind farms in Victoria

List of wind farms in Western Australia

Installed and proposed capacity by state

#	State /Territory	Wind Power Capacity				Proposed Projects' Publicly Announced Status (MW)
		Installed MW			ProposedMW	Feasibility	SeekingApproval	PlanningApproved	UnderTender	UnderConstruction	Abandonedor Suspended
		Off Grid	On Grid	Total	ProposedMW	Feasibility	SeekingApproval	PlanningApproved	UnderTender	UnderConstruction	Abandonedor Suspended
1	SA	0.160	387.75	387.910	1,986	890.00	—	724.9	—	254	117
2	WA	8.635	189.93	198.565	243	99.20	2.0	141.6	—	—	—
3	Vic	—	133.77	133.770	2,632	845.50	274.5	887.5	165	192	120
4	Tas	2.530	64.75	67.280	555	190.00	—	130.0	—	75	160
5	NSW	—	16.62	16.620	1,193	525.30	268.6	319.0	—	—	80
6	Qld	0.450	12.00	12.450	176	52.02	—	124.0	—	—	—
7	AAT	0.600	—	0.600	0.3	—	—	0.3	—	—	—
8	NT	0.080	—	0.080	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
9	ACT	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Australia	12.455	804.82	817.275	6,785	2602.02	545.1	2327.3	165	521	477

Wind turbine efficiency

The efficiency of a wind turbine is defined as the proportion of electrical energy that's derived from the kinetic energy loss in the prevailing wind due to the presence of the turbine. In theory, a 100% efficiency would imply that all of the wind energy that's lost between the windward and leeward side, is converted to electrical energy. In practice, this not achievable due to losses such as mechanical, heat, sound and aerodynamic losses (such as turbulent patches and vorticies in the flow structure). The maximum theoretical mechanical efficiency of 59% is known as the Betz limit.
The horizontal axis turbines of the type commonly used in Australia exhibit varying efficiencies levels at different wind speeds. The maximum efficiency can approach 50%, but the average efficiency over a range of wind speeds is usually closer to 20% in Europe and has a range of between 30 and 40% in Australia. Turbines are usually optimised to enable maximum efficiency at a pre-determined wind speed in order to maximise the maximum energy over a long period. This needs to take into account that the available power is proportional to the cube of the wind speed - in other words, a doubling a wind speed increases the available energy eightfold.

Competitiveness of wind power

Making comparisons between wind and other sources of energy can be difficult because of the cost profiles associated with wind developments. The vast majority of the costs associated with wind developments are upfront capital costs. The operating costs are relatively low, with each additional unit of wind power costing very little to produce. By comparison, conventional gas and coal developments have large capital costs, as well as significant operating costs. The difference in cost profiles creates difficulties when trying to compare the cost of alternative energy sources.
Despite these complexities, most of the data indicate that wind energy is one of the most cost efficient sources of renewable energy and that when the costs associated with pollution are factored in it's competitive with coal- and gas-fired power stations. It is one of the major exporters of coal, the burning of which releases CO₂ into the atmosphere. It is also one of the countries most at risk from climate change according to the Stern report. This is partially because of the size of its agriculture sector and long coastline.
A wind farm, when installed on agricultural land, has one of the lowest environmental impacts of all energy sources:

It occupies less land area per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity generated than any other energy conversion system, apart from rooftop solar energy, and is compatible with grazing and crops.

It generates the energy used in its construction in just 3 months of operation, yet its operational lifetime is 20-25 years.

Greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution produced by its construction are small and declining. There is very little emission or pollution produced by its operation.

In substituting for base-load (mostly coal power) in mainland Australia, wind power produces a net decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, and a net increase in biodiversity.

Modern wind turbines are almost silent and rotate so slowly (in terms of revolutions per minute) that they're rarely a hazard to birds. Some wind farms become tourist attractions.

Politics of wind power

From 2001 to early 2006, the main driving force for the establishment of wind farms in Australia was the Government's Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET). However, by mid-2006, sufficient renewable energy had been installed or was under construction to meet the small MRET target for 2010. Also, in 2006, several Federal Government Ministers spoke out against a number of wind farm proposals.

Wind Prospect

In March 2005 the 46MW Canunda Wind Farm in South Australia, developed by Wind Prospect, was commissioned. A second South Australian wind farm, Mt Millar Wind Farm, was commissioned in January 2006 and this provides a further 70MW of generation. More recently, a third wind farm has reached financial close for Wind Prospect in South Australia. This is the 95MW Hallett Wind Farm which is expected to be fully commissioned late in 2008.

Further Information

Get more info on 'Wind Power In Australia'.

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