Power to Hallett

Northern Argus
Wednesday 7/3/2007 Page: 1

Prototype turbine expected to start on Friday

Hallett Wind Farm will hit a major milestone this week when a prototype turbine prototype tower at the AGL project is connected into the electricity grid. The giant blades may start turning by Friday to begin a three-month testing program to demonstrate the turbine's capabilities.

The project, Australia's largest windfarm, is being built by Suzlon EnergyAustralia and will feature 45 wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 94.5 megawatts. This is enough "green" energy to supply 60,000 average Australian households.

The massive turbines will stand like futuristic sculptures along the Brown Hill ridge overlooking the Hallett rower station. Suzlon Energy project manager Peter Reed said construction of the windfarm had provided a real boost for the local economy, which had been timely with this season's drought. Up to 90 people have been involved in the construction of the wind farm, including 30 local people.

When the wind farm is fully operational, it will require six permanent staff to service and maintain the site. The project is due to be completed in March 2008. Mr Reed said there had been a huge amount of local interest in the project and the company had been well accepted by the local community. "We are having a ball and everything is running smoothly, we have been extremely lucky with favourable weather conditions and the civil and electrical contractors are ahead of schedule at this point in time," he said.

Suzlon Energy has also been awarded the contract to build a similar facility on the Barunga Ranges, near Snowtown, which has already commenced with geotechnical investigations and road construction will start in two weeks time.