Wind power in Australia

Wind power in Australia is a proven and reliable technology that can be and is readily deployed. As of October 2010, there were 52 wind farms in Australia, most of which had turbines of from 1.5 to 3 megawatts (MW). The total operating wind generating capacity at this time was 1,880 MW, with annual production of almost 5,000 GWh providing close to two percent of Australia's national electricity demand. However, despite having excellent conditions for wind power, Australia lags considerably behind leading nations both in terms of wind generation capacity and percentage of power production.

South Australia had close to half of the nation's wind power capacity, accounting for almost twenty percent of that state's electricity needs of as October 2010. Victoria also had a substantial system, with about a quarter of the nation's capacity, and projects under construction forecast to more than double that capacity by the end of 2013.

Overview

As of October 2010, wind power accounted for approximately 5 TWh out of a total of 251 TWh of electricity used per year, enough electricity to power more than 700,000 homes, and amounting to about two percent of Australia's total electricity consumption. This came from 52 operating wind farms with greater than 100 kW capacity, consisting of a total of 1,052 turbines. This figure represented approximately a 30% increase in wind power generation each year over the previous decade, or a total increase of more than 1,000% over that time. The total installed capacity at October 2010 was 1,880 MW (1.88 GW), counting only projects over 100 kW, with a further 1,043 MW under construction.

International comparisons

Australia's total wind generation capacity of 1,880 MW in 2010 was considerably lower in comparison to many other developed and developing nations, ranking 15th globally behind leaders such as China with 44,733 MW, the US with 40,180 MW, Germany with 27,215 MW, Spain with 20,676 MW, and India with 13,066 MW.

In terms of installed capacity per head of population, Australia ranked 18th in the world in 2010, with 0.086 kW per person. This was only around one eighth of world leader Denmark, who had 0.675 kW per person, while other top countries were Spain with 0.442 kW per person, Portugal with 0.344 kW per person, and Germany with 0.334 kW per person. The top two countries in terms of total capacity, China and the US, only ranked 27th and 9th in terms of capacity per head, with 0.033 kW per person and 0.128 kW per person respectively.

While Australia produced almost 2% of its electricity from wind power, in comparison to other countries it again lagged well behind world leaders in 2010. Again Denmark topped this list, accounting for approximately 19% of electricity production, with Portugal at 18%, Spain at 16%, and Germany at 9%. Global leaders in terms of total capacity, China and the US, had contributions as a percentage of total electricity supply closer to that of Australia, with 1.2% and 2% respectively.

Environmental importance

The Garnaut Climate Change Review, the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and the Mandatory Renewable energy Target announced by the Australian Government involve a reduction in Australian greenhouse gas emissions. 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.

Based on the 2010 figures for electricity production of 5 TWh nationally, it is estimated that wind power saved Australia 5,100,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions in that year. In relative terms, that is calculated to be the equivalent of removing 1,133,000 cars from the nation's roads.

Wind resources

The information centre near the base of one of the towers at Wattle Point Wind Farm

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 (the hub height of a modern wind generator). The southwest of Western Australia, southern South Australia, western Victoria, northern Tasmania and elevated areas of New South Wales and Queensland have 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. However, the modelling of how wind generating capacity correlates with electricity demand in terms of daily, seasonal and year-to-year patterns of both, has yet to be conducted.

Wind farms

As of October 2010, there were 52 wind farms of greater than 100 kW capacity operating in Australia. The Waubra Wind Farm near Ballarat, Victoria, completed in 2009, was the largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere, consisting of 128 turbines spread over 173 km² and rated at 192 MW, however in terms of generating capacity Lake Bonney Wind Farm near Millicent, South Australia was the largest with 239.5 MW, despite only having 99 turbines. These figures were set to be surpassed by the Macarthur Wind Farm at Macarthur, Victoria, scheduled to open in 2013 with a capacity of 420 MW.

By generating capacity, the ten largest wind farms in Australia were:

No.	Project	State	Capacity (MW)
1	Lake Bonney Wind Farm	South Australia	240
2	Portland Wind Farm	Victoria	195
3	Waubra Wind Farm	Victoria	192
4	Hallett Wind Farm	South Australia	166
5	Woolnorth Wind Farm	Tasmania	140
6	Snowtown Wind Farm	South Australia	99
7	Wattle Point Wind Farm	South Australia	91
8	Walkaway Wind Farm	Western Australia	90
9	Emu Downs Wind Farm	Western Australia	80
10	Mount Millar Wind Farm	South Australia	70

Australia's first commercial wind farm, Salmon Beach Wind Farm near Esperance in Western Australia operated for 15 years from 1987, but was decommissioned due to urban encroachment; it has been replaced by Ten Mile Lagoon Wind Farm and Nine Mile Beach Wind Farm. In August 2009, The Age newspaper reported that the first of three new large-scale wind farming projects to offset Australia's power-hungry desalination plants would be going ahead.

Wind power by state

A full listing of all the wind farms in Australia, can be found in List of wind farms in Australia. Relevant state articles are:

• New South Wales wind power
• Queensland wind farms
• South Australia wind power
• Tasmania wind farms
• Victoria wind farms
• Western Australia wind farms

For an up-to-date map of the Australian wind energy projects, operating and proposed, download a free copy of the EPi Wind Project Map at www.elementalpower.com.au

Installed and proposed capacity by state

The following figures were based on capacity as of October 2010, and included only projects larger than 100 kW. In world terms, South Australia's market penetration of 19.4% placed it on par the world's leading nation, Denmark, who provided approximately 19% of their total electricity from wind.

#	State / Territory	Wind Power Capacity				Proposed Projects' Publicly Announced Status (MW)
		Installed capacity				Feasibility	Seeking approval	Planning approved	Under tender	Abandoned or suspended	Under construction
		Projects	Turbines	Total MW	Penetration (%)
1	SA	14	435	907	19.4	890	—	725	—	117	296
2	Vic	9	267	428	4.3	846	275	1,369	165	120	487
3	WA	14	142	202	1.2	99	2	142	—	—	—
4	NSW	7	116	187	1.0	525	269	1,315	—	80	92
5	Tas	6	68	143	4.7	190	—	130	—	160	168
6	Qld	2	22	12	0.1	52	—	624	—	—	—
7	AAT	1	2	1	—	—	—	0.3	—	—	—
8	NT	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
9	ACT	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Australia	52	1,052	1,880	—	2,602	545	4,304	165	477	1,043

Competitiveness of wind power

Main article: Wind power#Economics

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 is competitive with coal- and gas-fired power stations.

Environmental impact

Main article: Environmental impact of wind power

Wind power is one of the most environmentally friendly sources of renewable energy

Australia is the fifth highest per capita emitter of greenhouse gases with 25.8 tonne CO₂-e per person annually, ranking first of the industrialized countries, and ranks sixteenth of all countries in total country emissions with 495 Mt CO₂-e per annum. 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.
• Modern wind turbines are almost silent and rotate so slowly (in terms of revolutions per minute) that they are rarely a hazard to birds.

Landscape and heritage issues may be a significant issue for certain wind farms,however these are minimal when compared with the Environmental effects of coal. However, when appropriate planning procedures are followed, the heritage and landscape risks should be minimal. Some people may still object to wind farms, perhaps on the grounds of aesthetics, but their concerns should be weighed against the need to address the threats posed by climate change and the opinions of the broader community.

Overseas experience has shown that community consultation and direct involvement of the general public in wind farm projects has helped to increase community approval. 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.

Dr Mark Diesendorf has suggested that the Australian Government has tried to stop the development of wind power, the lowest-cost, new, renewable electricity source, until such time as coal-fired power stations with CO₂ capture and sequestration and possibly nuclear power stations are available. However, "clean coal" technologies may not be commercially available for at least 20 years. Furthermore, to bring down the high cost of nuclear power to a level where it could compete with wind power would require a new generation of nuclear power stations that is still on the drawing board, which could take at least 15 years.

In November 2007 the Rudd (Labor) government was elected in Australia, replacing the Howard (Liberal/National Coalition) government. The new government ratified Australia's commitment to the Kyoto Protocol, promised a target of 20% renewable power by 2020 and to do more to reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, several new wind power projects have been proposed in anticipation of an expanded MRET.

In July 2011 the Australian Broadcasting Corporation 4 Corners program explored health concerns connected with Australian wind farms in its "Against the Wind" report.

Major wind power companies

Epuron

Epuron specialises in electricity generation using renewable energy. Its focus is on windpower development in NSW, with major projects developed or proposed by Epuron including:

• Gullen Range Wind Farm, 73 wind turbines
• Yass Valley Wind Farm, ~140 wind turbines
• Cullerin Range Wind Farm, 30 MW
• Conroys Gap Wind Farm, 30 MW
• Snowy Plains Wind Farm, 30 MW
• Silverton Wind Farm, 598 wind turbines, ≈1000 MW (proposed)

Meridian Energy

Meridian Energy is the largest electricity generator in New Zealand and has in recent years expanded into Australia. It uses only renewable energy generation sources, and its Australian operations are currently focused on windpower. Projects completed or currently being developed include:

• Macarthur Wind Farm, 140 wind turbines, 420 MW
• Mount Mercer Wind Farm, 64 wind turbines, 131 MW
• Mount Millar Wind Farm, 35 wind turbines, 70 MW

Pacific Hydro

Pacific Hydro is an Australian company that specialises in electricity generation using renewable energy. Its focus is on hydroelectricity and windpower. Wind power stations owned by Pacific Hydro include:

• Codrington Wind Farm
• Challicum Hills Wind Farm
• Portland Wind Project

Roaring 40s

Roaring 40s is based in Tasmania and has two wind farms operating in Australia: Woolnorth Wind Farm in Tasmania and Cathedral Rocks Wind Farm in South Australia. It is currently (as of December 2009) constructing the 117MW Waterloo Wind Farm in the Mid North of South Australia.

Suzlon

Suzlon Energy Australia Pty. Ltd. (SEA), is based in Melbourne, and is a subsidiary of Suzlon Energy, an Indian multinational based in Pune, India. Suzlon will install 45 units of its S88 – 2.1 megawatt wind turbines for AGL at the Hallett Wind Farm to be located on the Brown Hill Range, which is situated approximately 220 kilometers north of Adelaide.

TrustPower

TrustPower is a renewable electricity generating company operating in Australia and New Zealand. Wind farms in Australia include Snowtown and the proposed Myponga, both in South Australia.

Wind Prospect

Wind Prospect undertakes all aspects of wind energy development, including design, construction, operation and commercial services, with offices in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and China. With over 18 years of successful development within the industry, the Wind Prospect Group has been involved in over 2,500MW of approved wind farms, including onshore and offshore projects, in terms of development, construction, operations and commercial services, and has a further 4000MW in the early phase of development. The company’s civil, electrical and mechanical engineers have been involved in the commissioning of over 50 wind farms around the world.

Wind Prospect’s development offices in Australia are in Adelaide, Newcastle, Brisbane and Melbourne. Wind Prospect Pty Ltd (WPPL) is the most successful developer in Australia, having achieved planning approval for 10 wind farms totalling over 860 MW, of which 565MW is operating or under construction.

Two recent successes in South Australia are the North Brown Hill Wind Farm (132.3MW) and The Bluff Range Wind Farm (52.1MW), both approximately 270 km north east of Adelaide, which are Wind Prospect’s sixth and seventh wind farm developments respectively to progress to construction in South Australia. More projects in this region have received planning approval and are expected to proceed to construction.

Wind Farm	Turbines	Capacity MW	Status
Hallett Wind Farm	45	94.5	Operating
Snowtown (Stage 1)	47	98.7	Operating
Canunda Wind Farm	23	46	Operating
Mount Millar Wind Farm	35	70	Operating
Hallett II (Hallett Hill)	34	71.4	Operating
Hallett IV (North Brown Hill)	63	132.3	Under Construction
Hallett V (The Bluff Range)	25	52.5	Under Construction
Snowtown (Stage 2)	83	166	Approved, awaiting construction
Willogoleche Hill	26	52	Approved, awaiting construction
Troubridge Point	15	30	Approved
Green Point	18	54	Approved
Totals	414	864.9

Windlab

Windlab Systems is an Australian company with operations in the USA, Canada and South Africa. It was established in 2003 as a CSIRO spin-off. The company uses self developed technologies, Windscape which is based on CSIRO’s atmospheric modelling technology and advanced wind monitoring tools, to undertake a program of site identification, site validation and wind farm development. Approximately 1500 megawatts of projects in Australia have used Windlab intellectual property for site identification purposes. The company co-developed the Oakland's Hill (67MW) wind farm and the Collgar Wind Farm (206MW). Windlab has since become a full wind farm developer and takes projects to the point of construction.

See also

• Energy policy of Australia
• List of large wind farms
• Renewable energy in Australia
• Solar power in Australia

External links

• Miskelly, Andrew (2010). "Wind Farm Performance". http://windfarmperformance.info/. Retrieved 2010-10-08.  Australian wind energy production since 14 May 2008 (data from AEMO)
• Wind Power and Wind Farms in Australia: Wind in the Bush
• List of useful links about renewable energy in Australia
• Renewable Energy Atlas of Australia
• "Why Australia needs wind power" by Mark Diesendorf
• SA Electricity Industry Supply Planning Council 2005 Wind Study
• Sustainability Victoria Wind Energy: The Myths and the Facts
• Why does Green Power cost extra?
• The base-load fallacy
• Integrating wind energy in the Australian National Electricity Market
• Wind energy round the clock