By NIGEL ADLAM
10aug06
A MINI wind farm may be built at a Northern Territory town.
Two 30m-tall turbines would provide about 10 per cent of Tennant Creek's power and single-turbine generators would also be installed at remote communities, such as Alpurrurulam.
The Power and Water Corporation said the Barkly Tableland was the only Territory region to consistently get enough wind to generate power.
The average wind speed at Tennant Creek is 5m per second but southern state wind farms are powered by winds four times as strong.
``Wind power is marginal but feasible on the Barkly,'' Power and Water's sustainable energy manager Trevor Horman said.
The turbines would be sited on elevated ground and Mr Horman said it was likely a turbine would be put at either end of the town of Tennant Creek.
The corporation yesterday called for expressions of interest from businesses.
``We would guarantee to buy the power,'' Mr Horman said.
The project has been made possible by the Australian Greenhouse Office recognising Tennant Creek as eligible for its remote renewable power generation program.
This means investment in the wind turbines would qualify for rebates of about 50 per cent.
Companies have until next month to submit expressions of interest.
Wind turbines have been praised for providing inexpensive, renewable energy but condemned as blots on the landscape, killing birds.
Mr Horman said Power and Water was proud of its record on renewable energy and corporation-backed projects included several large solar power stations, the use of biodiesel and a landfill gas generator.
``We're hoping a wind generator at Tennant Creek will add to these projects,'' said Mr Horman.
http://www.ntnews.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,20076659%255E13569,00.html
