Tennant Creek & District Times, Page: 3
Friday, 11 August 2006
A MINI wind farm is to be built at a Territory town. The two 30 metre-tall turbines will provide about 10 per cent of Tennant Creeks power. Single turbine generators will also be installed at other remote communities. Power and Waters said the Barkly Tableland was the only region in the Territory that consistently had enough wind to generate power.
The average wind speed at Tennant is five metres per second. Southern wind farms are powered by winds four times as strong. Power and Waters sustainable energy manager Trevor Horman said: "Wind power is marginal but feasible on the Barkly." The turbines would be installed on elevated ground.
Mr Horman said it was likely a turbine would be placed at either end of the town. The corporation yesterday called for expressions of interest from businesses to enter into an agreement to buy wind-powered electricity. The project has been made possible by the Australian Greenhouse Office recognising Tennant as eligible for its remote renewable power generation program.
This means investment in the wind turbines would qualify for rebates of about 50 per cent. Companies have until next month to submit expressions of interest. Mr Horman said he expected about six proposals. "The technology is well tested." he said.
Wind turbines have been praised for providing inexpensive, renewable energy but condemned for being blots on the landscape and killing birds. Mr Horman said Power and Water was proud of its rccord on renewable energy. He said corporation-backed projects included several large solar power stations, the use of biodiesel and a land gas generator. "We’re hoping a wind generator at Tennant Creek will add to these projects," said Mr Horman.
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