Significant savings achieved by Esperance wind farm

12/3/96

More than $1.37 million in cost savings have been achieved from Australia's largest wind farm during its second year of operation.

Energy Minister Colin Barnett, who opened the wind farm two years ago, said the $5.8 million Western Power wind farm had exceeded expectations by increasing its forecasted cost savings and reducing fuel use, whilst also providing up to 30 per cent of the region's power needs.

The Minister said that, at this rate, the wind farm would easily pay for itself within another few years.

"The Ten-Mile Lagoon Wind Farm has rivalled other wind projects around the world by proving to be a cost-effective and environmentally sound method of power generation," Mr Barnett said.

"It has also so far saved 3.4 million litres of fuel and has subsquently avoided emissions into the atmosphere equalling about 9,880 tonnes of carbon dioxide greenhouse gases."

The wind farm has the capacity to generate two megawatts of power to Esperance and surrounding areas and the nine wind turbines have provided enough power for 1,000 Esperance homes (more than six million kiloWatt hours).

The Minister said the Ten Mile Lagoon Wind Farm was established for the remote town of Esperance, after the successful operation over five years of a smaller demonstration project at nearby Salmon Beach.

Media contact: Carolyn Vicars - 222 9699