01 November
2006 - Coral Bay's energy future will be transformed
with the addition of three new 275 kilowatt wind
turbines in an innovative wind/diesel project.
Announcing Australian Government
funding of $2.76 million dollars, Minister for
the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell
said the project was a leading example in introducing
wind energy into an existing diesel system.
“Coral Bay is remote enough
to be off the main electricity grid, but not so
remote that it doesn't attract large numbers of
tourists. With its electricity supply dependent
on diesel, and tourism numbers expanding, the
town was looking for alternative energy sources
to boost electricity supplies,” Senator Campbell
said.
“The three new wind turbines
will be cyclone protected and the electricity
they produce will be linked to the diesel generation
system by a computerised system that will smooth
out the variable energy flows caused by changing
wind speeds.
“Together with improvements
to five “low load” diesel generators, Coral Bay
will have the best of both diesel and wind generation
technologies.”
The new wind turbines are expected
to provide about 40 per cent of the town's annual
electricity supply, reducing diesel consumption
by around 440,000 litres each year and resulting
in savings of more than 1160 tonnes of greenhouse
gases annually.
“The Coral Bay project brings
the number of large scale Australian Government
funded wind/diesel systems in Western Australia
to five – the others are located at Denham, Hopetoun,
Bremer
ZBay and Rottnest Island,” Senator Campbell said.
“These projects have many benefits,
not only for the community with improved power
supplies and improved air quality, but also for
Australia's action in reducing greenhouse gas
emissions.”
The $205 million Renewable Remote
Power Generation Programme provides funding to
install renewable power generation and associated
enabling equipment in remote locations where it
displaces the use of fossil fuel.
Rob Broadfield
