Record power output

Port Lincoln Times
Thursday 8/3/2007 Page: 3

GALE force winds have helped the Cathedral Rocks Wind Farm reach a record power output this summer. Cathedral Rocks facilities manager John Fannin said record production was reached during several particularly windy days in January and February.

He said the windiest day was in January. "It was blowing a gale out here and we produced nearly maximum output all day," he said. Mr Fannin said currently wind turbines at the farm were generating "more than enough" clean green electricity to power Port Lincoln and the surrounding districts.

At maximum capacity, the wind farm generates 66 megawatts of energy - that's enough energy to power 50,000 homes, according to Mr Fannin. This clean energy was particularly important during this time of possible climate change and the onset of global warming.

`The Cathedral Rocks Wind Farm is displacing up to a quarter of a million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year by generating electricity without further contributing greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere," he said.

The Cathedral Rocks Wind Farm continues to undergo routine testing and servicing of the turbines, and there are often times when some turbines are out of service while they are tested.

Mr Fannin said currently one of the turbines was out of service but it should be operating again soon. He said the farm was supporting the district's economy by using local contractors where possible, and the eight full-time staff members currently working at the wind farm were all Port Lincoln locals.