Denham Wind-Diesel System

Denham, a remote town about 800km north of Perth on the Shark Bay peninsula in Western Australia, has a smart wind-diesel system.

The Australian-made control technology, together with the advanced variable speed wind turbine, has made this system a world leader.

Denham's wind-diesel system is made up of four wind turbines and three low-load diesel generators.

The turbines - installed in 1997, 1998 and 2007 - provide at least 40% of Denham’s electricity requirements. If the wind drops, the power station immediately increases its output ensuring a continual supply of electricity to the town.

Denham‘s electricity used to be supplied by diesel engine driven generators. This meant high costs and a reliance on importing diesel fuel into the region.

The German-designed 230kW Enercon wind turbines are variable speed "inverter coupled" machines. A computer at the power station automatically controls the system to meet Denham's power needs and react in emergency situations. Overall monitoring and analysis of the Denham system is maintained from Perth using remote monitoring equipment.