State-of-the-art wind farm opens

31/10/03
Energy Minister Eric Ripper today opened the most advanced wind-diesel power facility in Australia on the Western Australian south coast, developing WA's reputation as the home of renewable energy.
Mr Ripper also announced the State Government would commission an independent study to find ways to introduce more wind power into the South-West electricity grid.
The Minister said the $10.6million Nine Mile Beach wind farm at Esperance, 600km south-east of Perth, was Western Power's fifth wind farm since it pioneered the industry with Australia's first commercial wind farm in 1987.
There were other major private sector proposals on the drawing board that could generate enough power for about 100,000 homes.
"WA has abundant wind and solar resources, as well as innovative producers of energy from waste material," Mr Ripper said.
"With the passage of the Government's electricity reform legislation to remove the obstacles to competition, renewable energy operators will become a more important part of the energy marketplace.
"It's good for the economy and good for the environment that we have a thriving, diverse, innovative renewable energy industry operating in a free and open energy market."
Mr Ripper said the Nine Mile Beach wind farm was the second for Esperance.
Operating with the nearby Ten Mile Lagoon wind farm, greenhouse gas emissions would be cut by about 7,500 tonnes a year.
A quarter of the local community's electricity needs will be clean, green energy harvested from the region's wind, reducing the reliance on the local diesel power station.
The new wind farm has six turbines capable of producing 3.6 megawatts of electricity.
Combined with the two megawatts from the existing 10 Mile Lagoon wind farm, wind energy in Esperance is enough for 3,500 homes.
"This is an impressive performance and showcases the commitment of Western Power and the WA State Government to greenhouse gas abatement while encouraging renewable energy," Mr Ripper said.
"It also is a demonstration of the high level of expertise in wind-diesel technology that has developed within Western Power."
Western Power, working with PowerCorp from Darwin, is the world leader in the integration of wind farms with diesel generation in regional locations - marketed through Diesel/Wind Systems.
"Flowing from Western Power's wind energy program has been the development of the wind-diesel technology which broadens the scope for wind applications in remote or regional locations with smaller diesel or gas fired power stations," the Minister said.
Federal Member for Kalgoorlie Barry Haase represented Environment Minister David Kemp at the wind farm official opening.
"Federal Government incentives such as Australian Greenhouse Office grants programs and the mandatory renewable energy targets were instrumental in expanding the opportunities for renewable and alternative energy projects in Australia," Mr Haase said.
"Nine Mile Beach Wind farm was a result of both these programs which had benefits for the local community, WA and Australia."
Mr Ripper said Nine Mile Beach Wind Farm, built with $5million of financial assistance from the Australian Greenhouse Office and administrative assistance of the Sustainable Energy Development Office, was part of Project Esperance.
At more than $100million, Project Esperance is a major upgrade of energy infrastructure in Esperance and is one of the biggest capital works programs in Esperance.
The other components of the project are the new gas-fired power station being built at the port and gas pipeline from the Goldfields ($90million) and the local power distribution system upgrade ($6million).
Project Esperance will be completed by March 2004.
Minister's Office - 9222 8788