Hopetoun Wind-Diesel Power System

Australian Power & Energy News
Thursday 25/10/2007 Page: 32

Verve Energy has tapped into the wind resource of the south coast of WA for local electricity supplies. After successfully building wind farms at Albany and Esperance. Verve Energy now has two wind-diesel power systems operating at the smaller coastal communities of Bremer Bay and Hopetoun. Hopetoun is experiencing rapid expansion as the result of the construction of the massive Ravensthorpe nickel project about 30kms away. All services, including power, are under pressure. To ease that pressure, the wind-diesel power system was built. One of its advantages was the modular nature of the system - wind turbines and diesel engines can be added as the electricity demand grows.

WA Energy Minister Francis Logan opened the Hopetoun wind-diesel power system. When he visited the site, some 55% of the town's electricity was being produced by the two 600kW wind turbines from the brisk south-westerly wind that was blowing. The remainder was coming from the diesel generators, which have been modified to operate at much lower-loads than normal diesel engines. And, monitoring the performance of both power sources was the Powercorp wind-diesel management system. It irons out the fluctuations of the gusting wind and ensures that the low-load diesels track the load so that there is a seamless integration.

Verve Energy Managing Director Shirley In't Veld is excited about the prospects for wind-diesel wind systems, both in WA and in other parts of Australia. "These systems are particularly suited for end-of grid applications and for isolated communities. "Impressive savings in fuel and greenhouse emissions can be achieved with this unique combination of technologies. "At Hopetoun or example, some 700,000 litres of fuel and 2100 tonnes of CO2 are saved each year," Ms In't Veld said.

At Denham, the community on Shark Bay, home of the famous Monkey Mia dolphins, wind energy consistently provides better than 40% of the town's electricity. An extra wind turbine and low-load diesel generator are being installed this year. At Coral Bay, gateway to the fabulous Ningaloo Reef, a new wind-diesel power system is replacing several private generators. Again, this system, built to cope with the high demand of the popular holiday seasons, can be expanded as the community grows. wind-diesel is ideal for this environmentally sensitive region. Verve Energy is pursuing other opportunities for the wind-diesel technology.