Wind farming may well be more profitable than sheep, now and into the future, and just maybe it will not be long before it is a commonplace practice on local farms. The Canberra- Goulburn-Yass triangle is believed to offer the best wind in the country, due partly to average temperatures.
Last Wednesday a powerful bevy of politicians and several bus loads of media were hosted to the official launching of the Capital Wind Farm at Bungendore overlooking Lake George on the Osborne family properties. The 'farm' was opened by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, NSW Premier Nathan Rees and Minister for Climate Change, Senator Penny Wong.
Owned by Infigen Energy, the 67 towers were seven years in the making from planning to completion, with an 18 month construction phase.
With a total cost of $400 million the Capital Wind Farm, is the biggest windfarm in NSW and the second biggest in Australia.
It is the largest renewable electricity generator commissioned in NSW since the Snowy Hydro Scheme. The Capital Wind Farm is almost five times the size of any other comparable wind farm in NSW.
Infigen Energy is Australia's leading specialist renewable energy business which owns and operates wind farms in Australia, the Unites States, Germany and France, including 41 wind farms that have a total installed capacity of approximately 2,246M.
The 67 turbines at Bungendore will generate 141 megawatts of power, which could supply one third of Canberra's needs, or 60,000 homes.
The project provided jobs for over 120 people during the construction phase, and will provide ten permanent jobs, and includes three 'wind farm apprentices.' From a pool of 700 applicants, 10 apprentices were selected, and they have been involved in the turbine installation. Turbine manufacturer Suzlon and RMIT worked together to train Australia's first electrical apprentices with a particular focus on wind farms.
The Managing Director of Infigen Energy, Miles George, said "The commissioning of the Capital wind farm is a major milestone for the company and for Australia's renewable energy industry."
"Wind energy accounts for over a third of all new electricity generation capacity being built in Europe each year and reached over 40% of all new generation installed in the US in 2008. In Australia we are moving in the same direction with the key driver here being the expanded Renewable Energy Target legislation, recently passed by the Federal Parliament," said Mr George.
The Capital wind farm consists of 67 Suzlon S88 2.1MW machines with a total installed capacity of 141MW and will play a crucial role in helping Sydney Water to secure the water supply for Sydney. Sydney Water's decision to use 100% renewable energy means that the desalination plant's power needs will be fully offset, when it starts supplying water this summer, contributing to Sydney Water's broader commitment to be fully carbon neutral by 2020.
Cr Raynolds said he "was honoured to represent" the people of Palerang at the opening and that the wind farm "provides annual income of approximately $1.5 m to the Palerang community. Very importantly it provides $3m for local council roads."
"The question I was repeatedly asked about was our reaction to the Wind Farm" said Cr Raynolds. "My answer was that as a community in general, and Bungendore in particular, we are very positive and supportive. However, we acknowledge some opposition."
Renewable energy is a critical component of the Rudd Government's commitment to take concrete, practical steps to tackle the threat of climate change.
"Under the Government's Renewable Energy Target, 20 per cent of Australia's electricity will come from renewable sources by 2020.
This means that in ten years' time, the amount of electricity coming from sources like wind, wave, solar and geothermal energy will be about equal to Australia's current household electricity use" said Senator Wong.
Senator Wong said "the passage of the CPRS through the Senate is critically important to driving investment in the industries that will lead Australia's transformation to a low carbon, clean energy future."
Around 50 wind farms are currently in operation around the nation.
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