Coral Bay powers up

Countryman
Thursday 30/8/2007 Page: 10

Coral Bay's new $14 million wind-over-diesel power project has been switched on. The new Vergnet wind turbines, which can be lowered to the ground during extreme weather conditions are the first in WA. Horizon Power has now assumed responsibility for power supplies in Coral Bay. Previously, three privately owned and operated electricity generators serviced the area using a limited distribution network. The three wind turbines are part of Coral Bay's wind farm and power station, which was officially opened by Energy Minister Fran Logan last Sunday.

The opening signalled the normalisation of power supplies in the area. Horizon Power general manager generation and technical services Mike Laughton-Smith said the system was new and innovative. "There is nothing `normal' about this power station - it is absolutely unique," Mr Laughton-Smith said.

Excess wind energy is stored in a massive spinning three-tonne steel flywheel at the power plant, which rotates in a vacuum on a magnetic bearing. The flywheel has enough inertia to keep it spinning for 12 hours unpowered. The power plant is continuously switchable between seven 320kW low-load diesel generators, three 275kW wind turbines, and the flywheel 'battery'.

Mr Logan said Horizon Power teamed up with Verve Energy to build the wind farm and low-load diesel power station on the fringe of the town. He said the wind turbines could generate up to 45 per cent of Coral Bay's electricity requirements. "The fact that the turbines can be lowered and raised as required in extreme weather conditions provides Verve Energy with a tremendous opportunity to use similar turbines in cyclone-prone areas," he said.