Turbine Upgrade

Newcastle Herald
Thursday 8/5/2008 Page: 3

STEP into the office of EnergyAustralia's maintenance staff. Their unique workplace is taller than the Stockton Bridge and provides spectacular 360-degree views from Newcastle to Port Stephens. EnergyAustralia is completing maintenance on the 11-year-old wind powered turbine at Kooragang Island.

Maintenance staff only get the chance to sample one of Newcastle's best and most exclusive views twice a year. But while staring out at Newcastle's landmarks from above can snake working a thrill, actually getting to work is far less enjoyable. The 50-metre vertical climb from the foot of the turbine to the generator housing on top takes an exhausting 15 minutes.

The turbine, which was installed in 1997, generates about 1 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy each year for EnergyAustralia customers. At full capacity, the 600 kilowatt turbine provides enough energy for about 230 homes, and at a wind speed of 50 kilometres an hour can light 10,000 light globes. The turbine helps to meet the demands of consumers who elect to have their power sourced from environmentally friendly generators, and prevents the release of about 900 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year.