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New windfarm plans on track
Release Date: 06 July 2006
PLANS are continuing for Albany's second windfarm despite the Australia-wide controversy surrounding sustainable electricity generation.
But the world-wide resources boom has forced the feasibility study into the project to be extended.
Verve Energy sustainable energy projects manager Dr Paul Ebert said the proposed $30 million Grasmere windfarm was only being delayed because of the basic economics which would determine its construction.
"Grasmere has run into issues dictated by the costs of metals, particularly copper and steel," he said.
"At this stage, economically, it's harder to build."
Dr Ebert said it was difficult to lock in the price of metals for the feasibility, especially with the rapid fluctuations which had seen copper increase by 100 per cent in a year.
"We are still considering it, and it looks okay, but it is suffering because of the economics," he said.
Seven wind turbines west of the existing facility are planned for the Grasmere windfarm.
It is expected to produce an additional 14mW of electricity to be added to the electricity grid and better handle Albany's growing requirements.
Grasmere is expected to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions by 50,000 tonnes a year and displace some 50,000 tonnes of coal and gas from electricity generation.
Dr Ebert said the Albany windfarm produced nearly 60 per cent of Albany's needs, a drop from more than 70 per cent when first built.
"Albany is growing at such a rate that it is using more electricity now than five years ago," he said.
Dr Ebert said the windfarm was doing its job.
Unusual weather had resulted in wide fluctuations of generation experienced for the first time this year.
"This has to be the worst wind year that Albany has had," he said. "There has been an extended dry period and a consequent drop in wind."
Dr Ebert rejected criticism from the Australian Government that windfarms were not efficient.
"There is a case for a drop in efficnecy," he said.
"But the savings are still there.
"The bottom line is that for every unit of electricity produced, there is one less produced by fossil fuels."
Dr Ebert said Verve Energy would not continue to look at generating electricity from wind power if it was not a success.
"We wouldn't do it if it didn't work," he said.
"It was tough putting it into Albany in the first place, so why would we continue?"
Dr Ebert said Western Power was proud of the results of the first wind farm in Albany, which had become a local icon.
But despite the confidence in wind power, he said it was difficult to quantify results because the amount produced in Albany was small compared to the Muja Power Station.
However, the Bremer Bay wind generator was on a separate line and could be better assessed.
The result was a saving of half the normal costs of generating electricity by diesel fuel.
Plans for a windfarm at Denmark remain up in the air.
Source: Albany Weekender
Any queries from the media are directed to Verve Energy's Corporate Relations branch.
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