Latest wind power project gets green light

1/8/03
Hopetoun, on the Western Australian south coast, soon could have up to 40 per cent of its electricity supplied from the wind.
That will be the result of a Western Power proposal to build a single, 70m tall wind turbine at the town, 580km south-east of Perth.
Announcing the go-ahead for the $3million project, Energy Minister Eric Ripper said WA had a unique environment and the Government wanted to protect it for future generations.
One way was through the use of more renewable energy.
Mr Ripper said wind technology was the most cost effective renewable technology for electricity generation currently available in remote towns of WA.
"Using Hopetoun's excellent wind resource, the wind turbine will reduce the town's dependence on its diesel power station and cut Western Power's losses on supplying electricity into the local network," he said.
"As well, it will reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 1,080 tonnes and the amount of distillate used in the local power station by about 400,000 litres a year."
Hopetoun will join Albany, Esperance, Denham and Exmouth as communities with access to clean green wind energy.
Mr Ripper said Western Power hoped to have the single 600 kilowatt wind turbine operating by Christmas.
Financial assistance of $1.3million was provided through the Federal Government's Renewable Remote Power Generation Program. The program is itself financed from the proceeds of diesel fuel excise paid by Western Power and its customers.
Two possible locations at Hopetoun are being investigated for the wind turbine. The final site will be determined in consultation with the local community.
State-of-the-art electronic control equipment developed by Western Power and Northern Territory company Powercorp will manage the variable output of the wind turbine and the interaction between the diesel power station and the wind turbine to ensure they operate seamlessly.
Western Power is a leading wind energy operator in Australia, with 27 wind turbines ranging in size from 20kW to 1800kW in wind farms already operating in Albany, Esperance, Denham and Exmouth and a total generating capacity of almost 25 megawatts. Another six 600kW turbines are nearing completion at Nine Mile Beach at Esperance.
The Albany wind farm is the largest wind farm in Australia using the biggest wind turbines in the southern hemisphere. The wind turbine for Hopetoun is smaller but sized appropriately to the town's electrical needs.
Hopetoun's wind turbine will be mounted on a 46m high tower and carry three 22m long blades. It will be identical to the new Nine Mile Beach wind farm turbines at Esperance.
Western Power is also considering options to relocate the local diesel power station out of the town to address local community comments about the power station noise. The wind turbine would remain as part of any future power system for the town.
The Hopetoun project continues Western Power's commitment to renewable energy projects to displace diesel used for generating electricity. The project will assist Western Power in meeting its Federal renewable energy requirements. As well as wind farms, Western Power is building a biomass demonstration plant at Narrogin which will use plantation mallee trees.
Minister for Energy's Office - 9222 8788
Peter Winner (for Western Power) 9326 4597