LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME


[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]

Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

Get weekly updates
RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Stripe

Donate via Paypal

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Wind farm is given final chance 

The proposed addition to the Albany Wind Farm to increase the city’s renewable energy dependence to 90 per cent has been given the chance to finally get under way.

The commercial viability of the Grasmere Wind Farm has improved with the advent of new technology and Verve Energy is again considering the project.

However, a decision will not be made for at least six months which could either enable the project to commence or be shelved indefinitely.

Project manager Daniel Thompson said this has been supported by intensified local, national and international debate about climate change and carbon taxes, and the need for more renewable energy.

“While equipment costs for this Grasmere project are still expected to be high, and our studies have some way to go, the commercial signs are now more positive,” he said.

“Verve Energy will continue this feasibility study to take into account these and other developments.”

The high cost of installing seven wind turbines adjacent the existing wind farm in 2005 ($30 million), resulted in Verve Energy shelving the project.

But instead of seven turbines being part of the new Grasmere Wind Farm, improved technology has enabled Verve Energy to reduce the number to six.

The high-cost wind turbines Verve considered for the project are no longer available and alternative wind turbines that provide 28 per cent more power were recently sourced.

Mr Thompson said this would result in the need for one less turbine for the same power output, thus lowering the projects costs.

This resulted in more positive signs for the project and Verve decided to continue a feasibility study.

A development application has been presented to the City of Albany with environmental assessment documents and detailed project plans being prepared.

A community consultation process will now start with a public display being organised for May.

Mr Thompson said this would give the community access to more information including the look of the wind farm, environmental issues and impact.

The wind farm’s 12 turbines at Sand Patch now produce 21.6Mw and were originally designed five years ago to supply 75 per cent of Albany’s electricity needs, but they now produce less than 50 per cent.

An additional 14Mw of electricity would be created for Albany.

Albany Weekender

21 February 2008

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Contributions
   Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)
Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI M TG TS G Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook Wind Watch on Linked In

Wind Watch on Mastodon Wind Watch on Truth Social

Wind Watch on Gab Wind Watch on Bluesky