Albany Wind Farm
Albany Wind Farm is a wind power station near Albany, Western Australia. It has 12 wind turbines, with a generating capacity of 21 MW of electricity. It was commissioned in October 2001.
The farm has 12 wind turbine generators situated on site. The turbines are the model ENERCON E-66, each with three 35 metres (115 ft) long blades made from fibreglass and kevlar (making them very flexible in order to withstand any conditions) and are fitted to 65 metres (213 ft) towers. The nose cone which the blades attach to weighs around 14 tonnes. These turbines are the largest that have been installed in the southern hemisphere. The turbines operate automatically, with the three blades adjusted to make best use of power output from any wind direction or strength. They have been designed to withstand the strongest winds likely in Albany and incorporate special lightning protection. Each turbine has a rating of 1800kW and is able to produce electrical energy at wind speeds of between 7 kilometres per hour (4 kn) up to 130 kilometres per hour (70 kn) at which the turbines are shut down. Maximum output is achieved at a wind speed of 50 kilometres per hour (27 kn).
Albany wind farm is situated in Albany on the southern coast of Western Australia. The wind farm is about 12 kilometres (7 mi)12km south-west of the city. The positioning in which the generators have been situated is perfect. It is in an elevated position of approximately 80 metres (262 ft) above the Southern Ocean. This height (makes it accessible to the wind), nearness to the coastline (coastline is where most wind is produced) and small distance to the main electricity transmission system make this an outstanding wind farm site. The turbines produce an average of 75 per cent clean, green electricity for Albany.
The wind farm is owned by the Verve Energy. The turbines were made in Germany and then shipped into Australia. The wind farm opened in October 2001 and had taken ten years planning before the site was built.
See also
External links
- Verve Energy page on Albany Wind Farm
35°3′29″S 117°47′0″E / 35.05806°S 117.78333°E
