Wind farm helps with the load

South Gippsland Sentinel Times
Tuesday 12/2/2008 Page: 8

Wind Power management say the Wonthaggi Wind Farm played a vital role in providing electricity to the Bass Coast Shire over the New Year period. Engineer for Wind Power Ross Richards said the facility was able to meet the extra demand for electricity over the holiday season.

"The Wonthaggi Wind Farm provided additional power up to the Bass Coast Shire during extreme hot weather while people partied on New Year's Eve," Mr Richards, said. "As temperatures soared, the demand for electricity rose, most likely due to the use of air conditioners, and the wind farm was able to assist in meeting this demand." Mr Richards said it helped that the wind was blowing well. "Wonthaggi has an excellent wind resource, producing power about 80 percent of the time. "On New Year's Eve the temperature was 42 degrees and the wind farm was generating enough power for more than 3000 homes," Mr Richards said.

"This was despite a minor telecommunications fault between the wind farm and the electricity network operator, which would generally see the wind farm instructed to be temporarily shut down." However, Mr Richards said support was needed to meet the demand for electricity and so the wind farm was asked to remain operating.

The Wonthaggi Wind Farm has been operational since 2005, and has six 2MW wind turbine generators on site. At its peak, the wind farm produces enough energy to power almost half the homes in the Bass Coast Shire. "If the power isn't used in the shire, it gets exported to the rest of the grid. "Due to growth in the region, the Wonthaggi Wind Farm can play a key role in helping support the local electricity network," Mr Richards said.