Wind energy 'has a future in Australia'

18 Nov 2009, 5:30 pm   -   Source: SBS - Ursula Malone
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Experts believe wind power could provide a fifth of Australia's electricity within 10 to 15 years, SBS' Ursula Malone reports.

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Wind power currently supplies only 1.3 per cent of Australia's energy, but several experts believe wind power could provide a fifth of Australia's electricity within 10 to 15 years, SBS' Ursula Malone reports.

The Capital Wind Farm, at Bungendore in NSW, was launched in mid-November and will generate enough capacity to power 60,000 homes with its 67 turbines.

Infigen managing director Mile George says the wind farm will produce emission-free electricity to offset that used in Sydney's new desalination plant

"We had a situation where Sydney Water was looking for a source of renewable energy to run its desalination plant," he said.  

"Our plant will supply the entire renewable energy requirements of that desalination plant and to put that in perspective that's roughly enough energy to supply about a third of Canberra's houses."

Before you can build a wind farm, you have to be sure there's plenty of wind. You also need to be near the electricity grid. The energy produced is fed straight in.

"As long as the wind's blowing, the turbines are turning around the clock, producing electricity 24 hours a day. This wind farm can produce enough energy to power 60,000 homes," Mr Mile says.

Farmers 'see it as a source of income'

The land is rented from local farmers. They're paid around ten thousand dollars a year for every turbine.

"Many farmers see it as an additional stable source of income.  A typical landowner will have three or four turbines so it could be $30,000 to $40,000 a year of very stable income over the long term which adds value to their property as well," Mr Mile said.

Dr Mark Diesdendorf is an expert on renewable energy. He believes wind power could provide a fifth of Australia's electricity within 10 to 15 years.

"If you're serious about cutting greenhouse gas emissions, right now on the supply side, wind has to be the number one," he said.

"Further down the track we will see a much bigger contribution from solar power but it is still quite expensive and it needs a bit more time to bring down its price."

Communities often opposed to wind farms

The biggest hurdle to wind farms is community opposition. In somes cases, neighbours complain they spoil the view.

Kiama Deputy Mayor Ben van der Wijngaart grew up around windmills in Holland and says the solution may be the European model of community wind farms.

"I think state and federal governments sometimes under-estimate the clear understanding and real imperative communities have to do something about climate change and peak oil,” he said. 

“They know something has to be done and they want to do it and they want to be involved in that process. Often when people say for probably very good reasons, oh I'm not too sure about this, one legitimate thing to say is we have to do something, think of the alternatives. 

“Do you want another coal-fired power station, do want a gas power station? Do you want something's that going to continue to spew co2 into the atmosphere or do you want something that is sustainable and will provide a reasonable future for our children?," Mr van der Wijngaart said.

In the search for an alternative to coal, wind is for the moment, the cheapest and the greenest option.

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Your Comments

Birds not at huge risk

Brendon Pywell - from Sydney, 3 years ago

re Birds Deaths: I hate the idea of wildlife being killed, but I found this article put things into better perspective ... "In the United States, cars and trucks wipe out millions of birds each year, while 100 million to 1 billion birds collide with windows. ... compare with 2.19 bird deaths per turbine per year." I too find the wind farms more appealing when I know that means less coal being burnt.

Best current solution

AW - from Adelaide, 3 years ago

Many argue for and against wind farms. Some say they are an eyesore, but they are a lot more attrative than a coal or nuclear power station. I'm sure a farmer would prefer a small footprint wind farm to nuclear power in his back yard. People argue about effects on birdlife, however do they consider how much wildlife is killed due to climate change, or people driving cars. Also the fact they peak and wane in production, but a broad base of different types of renewables over large areas can help.

Windfarms, there should be more of them.

shane - from cooks hil, newcastle, 3 years ago

I was recently in the southern tablelands area and saw from a distance the windfarm mentioned plus a small windfarm at Crookwell nearby. I thought the crookwell windfarm was quite beatiful, majestic and gave a good vibe. I don't think they should be eveywhere of course but in small pockets they work well and I wish there was a lot more of them. Ten grand a year for each turbine seems like a good steady income - if farmers are informed of the facts and it is voluntary then i dont see a problem.

Wind Power

Jack - from Mackay, 3 years ago

One of the things you see on most Aussie roofs is the spinning air vent. This is operated by 1. wind & 2. heat in roof pushing up. As it rotates it creates a vortex in the roof increasing the speed of the rotation. Should not verticle props/aerofoils (not a propellor) be added to the rotating shaft to increase the speed of them and attached to the underneath a generator with an invertor plugged into the house power supply????. How often do you see those air vents stationary? I'm working on one!

Biased Windfarm Story

FH - from Sydney, 3 years ago

Your story was very biased towards wind farms. How about the fact that they only operate at 30% capacity if you are lucky . What about rural residents who are facing noise and visual amenity issues due to these industrial wind factories. Sure wind power may have it's place, but when are the Federal and State governments going to give some consideration to building these structures where they don't affect anyone? And what about the inequity of the $$ received by the hosting landholders?

Propaganda, and Wind

DJ - from Perth, 3 years ago

So Rudd endorses wind farms and we are supposed to cheer?
Get real, this is just another cry for votes at the next election. 
No mention of the benefits of Nuclear Power, and no mention of the unsightly mess these "farms" have on our landscape.
They are downright UGLY, and will eventually lose their appeal.
Move forward and go nuclear.
Are you listening Mr. Rudd?

Wind or Nuclear ?

DJ - from Perth, 3 years ago

So the politicians think wind farms are the way forward for future electricty generation. 
I have seen plenty of these established in the beautiful countrysdie of the UK and, in my opinion, they are an eyesore!
Why, oh why, won't the people of Oz embrace Nuclear Power?
Is it because of the scaremongering by a certain Herr Rudd?
Come on people, nuclear power is the way to go; sure there may be opinions about waste disposal, but that has been successfully managed by other countries who use it...

Windfarms

Birdwatcher - from Canberra, 3 years ago

Prior to the construction of the windfarm near Canberra was any research done into the possible effects of the windfarms on the birdlife in the area?
The tips of those rotor blades do over 260km an hour and if incorrectly placed will kill a lot of birds we call raptors - like eagles, falcons, kites etc.
These birds are at the top of the avian food chain and they are especially susceptible to being caught by the rotor blades because they glide so much.
We're watching!

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