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Posted By: 32VAC Going with the wind - 08/10/06 08:57 AM
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
Posted By: Trumpy Re: Going with the wind - 08/10/06 09:44 AM
Good post 32VAC,
I would like to see any new wind technology be implemented, however it is not the be all and end all to the solution of any country's energy woes.
No matter how large or small.
No doubt, when the towers go up and the turbines get installed, there will be some bunch of nit-wits that won't like it.
These are the same people that hate pylons and HV gear running anywhere near their houses.
Although, all the lines that come out of a wind farm are underground, it is never enough.
You can hear the cries now "Oh but we hate the noise from the turbines!".
No matter how far they are away, some idiot will moan that they can hear it.
That is why alternative energy will fail, not because of trying, but because of those that burn their lights all night, listening for the wind and the turbine blades.
A pack of losers. [Linked Image]
Posted By: Alan Belson Re: Going with the wind - 08/10/06 10:34 AM
Solar Panels for electricity generation? They run silent.

Alan
Posted By: 32VAC Re: Going with the wind - 08/20/06 04:43 AM
Giant wind farm approved

August 20, 2006 11:55am
Article from: AAP

THE Victorian government has approved construction of the nation's most powerful and the state's largest wind farm.

Planning Minister Rob Hulls said the Mount Gellibrand project, near Colac in Victoria's west, would create significant employment and environmental benefits.

"I'm pleased to announce that I have approved Australia's most powerful and Victoria's largest wind farm to date," Mr Hulls said.

"This is a $380 million investment near Colac.

"The wind farm will generate enough power to power over 133,000 homes, which is really quite extraordinary."

Mr Hulls praised German company Pro Ventum International for its preparation before undertaking the project.

"The work that the proponent has done in consulting with the community before making an application for a planning permit has been excellent," he said.

In a pointed reference to the proposed Bald Hills wind farm, which has stalled amid claims it could harm rare orange-bellied parrots, Mr Hulls said endangered birds would not be compromised by the Mount Gellibrand project.

"The issue of brolgas was taken into account and indeed the panel recommended that any amelioration of the impact of brolgas can certainly be done by the proponent. The proponent is prepared to do that," he said. He said only nine objections had been lodged against the project, which would see about 110-120 jobs generated during construction and 20-25 full time jobs created after completion.

Local landowner Tim Gore, who plans to have 32 turbines on his property, said he understood the project would begin late next year and be completed about two years later.

Mr Gore said he was not concerned about possible noise from the turbines.

But wind farm critic Tim Le Roy said there was no environmental benefit from the project at all and the Victorian government would better spend its money on geo-thermal energy.

Mr Le Roy also disputed that the wind farm would be Victoria's largest, saying a wind farm planned for Waubra, in the state's west, would have 128 turbines.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20189891-2,00.html
Posted By: Alan Belson Re: Going with the wind - 08/21/06 11:16 AM
Average windspeed at Tennant Creek looks a bit marginal, [ 5m/s ], but it's ok.
'Geothermal', [ and included in this term I mean collection/dispersal of energy by heat-pump from shallow collectors for domestic heating/AC ], could be additional to and not a choice alternative to wind turbines. If he means deep-bore collection hot enough to run a turbine-generator plant, the site is not likely to be suitable for both technologies unless the facility got really lucky.

This demolishes the objector's comments.

Besides which, I think bladed turbines will be superceded by bladeless designs in very quick order. Quiet and with little risk to birdlife.
If you would like to see how this might be done, Gooogle "Tesla's turbine". Yep, it's 'Mr. 3-phase' himself, the one and only, patenting a turbine with no blades AT ALL!

Alan
Posted By: Kenbo Re: Going with the wind - 08/21/06 02:51 PM
Intresting.... this is something I have been studing lately. Suprised that Austrailia is only now getting involved in green power.

Here is something to look at about wind farms in europe http://www.kentishflats.co.uk/page.dsp?area=1386

This from a Danish power company. Have a look at the video of elsams activites. It will give you better idea of what working wind farm is like.
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