Wind farm off the ground

Northern Guardian
Wednesday 13/6/2007 Page: 5

THREE 275kw wind turbines will supply 40 per cent of Coral Bay's energy needs by the end of the year. Energy Minister Francis Logan said the $9.6 million wind-diesel project involved new technologies developed in Western Australia.

"The power system will use Verve Energy's technologically advanced control systems and lowload diesel generators which maximise the use of wind energy," he said. "It will also involve the use of wind turbines that can be lowered in the event of a cyclone." Mr Logan said the Coral Bay wind farm was the first large-scale application of its kind in Australia, and had good potential to be used in other cyclone-affected areas.

Federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell said the project was a leading example in introducing wind energy into an existing diesel system.