AUSTRALIA'S FIRST COMMERCIAL WIND FARM

It's two years since the rotor blades began spinning in Esperance,

Western Australia

A

HARVEST time in Esperance is constant. As long as the wind blows - which is pretty much all the time –nine identical synchronized wind turbines reap the benefits of the dependable winds that gust up around the southern coastline of Western Australia. These sleek ,white, robot-like wind turbines loom up on the horizon forming part of Australia's first commercial wind farm. They're not only functional machines that help provide electricity for this secluded coastal town, but increasingly, they're also draw cards for curious tourists and scientists alike.

 

B

Because of its isolation, Esperance is not linked to Western Power's grid which supplies electricity from gas-, coal-and oil-fired power stations to the widespread population of Western Australia. Before the wind turbines went in, Esperance's entire electricity needs were met by the diesel power station in town.

 

C

The $5.8 million Ten Mile Lagoon project is not Esperance's first wind farm. The success of a smaller, experimental wind farm, at a spot called Salmon Beach, encouraged the State's power utility to take Esperance wind seriously. Today the wind turbines at Ten Mile Lagoon work in conjunction with the diesel power station, significantly reducing the amount of the town's electricity generated by expensive diesel power.

 

D

The wind farm is connected to the power station by a 33-kilovolt power line, and a radio link between the two allows operators to monitor and control each wind turbine. The nine 225-kilowatt Vestas wind turbines produce a total generating capacity of two megawatts and provide around 12 per cent of the energy requirements of Esperance and its surrounding districts.

 

E

The power produced by a wind turbine depends on the size and efficiency of the machine and, of course, on the energy in the wind. The energy in the wind available to the wind turbines is proportional to wind speed cubed. Thus, the greater the wind speed, the greater the output of the turbine. In order to achieve optimum wind speeds, the right location is imperative.” You have to accept the nature of the beast," Mr. Rosser, Western Power's physicist said.” As surface dwellers our perceptions of wind speeds are bad. As you go higher, wind speed increases significantly."

 

F

The most favorable wind sites are on gently sloping hills, away from obstructions like trees and buildings and where the prevailing winds are not blocked. Computer modeling was used to select the best site for Esperance's wind farm. Scientists were concerned not only with efficiency, but also with protecting the coastal health environment which is rich in plant life and home to tiny pygmy and honey possums, and a host of bird species. In addition, the wind farm is adjacent to Esperance's popular scenic tourist drive.

 

G

Strict erosion controls have been implemented and access to the wind farm is limited to selected viewing areas. The wind turbine towers are painted white and devoid of corporate logos or signage. According to Mr. Rosser there is something of a worldwide backlash against wind farms with regard to their visual impact,” But because wind turbines perform best in the most exposed positions, they will always be visible. There is a very real need to balance environmental and technical requirements. I think the Ten Mile Lagoon Wind Farm sets the standards for environmentally friendly developments."

 

H

In fact, the project has become something of a tourist attraction in itself, Esperance shire president Ian Mickel said the wind turbines had been well accepted by locals.” We have watched the wind farm develop with great interest, and now we find visitors to Esperance are equally enthusiastic about it," he said. The aim now is to identify other remote locations where wind turbines will be a feasible means of supplementing existing power stations.