Wind Energy At Blayney Wind Farm New South Wales
Wind Power Turbines Generate Clean Energy In Rural Australia
Sep 27, 2009
Visit the Blayney Wind Farm on a Central New South Wales holiday and see an example of clean energy production in a rural environment. The Blayney Wind Farm consists of fifteen huge wind turbines harnessing the wind within the scope of their blades. An electrical generator is driven by the blades to produce power which is directed to the grid.
Where To Find Blayney Wind Farm
Blayney Wind Farm is located on grazing land adjacent to Lake Carcoar, a recreational lake below the foothills of Mount Macquarie. The Wind Farm turbines viewing area overlooks the lake and there is a small camping area nearby. It is a good vantage point for wind farm photos and in-depth information is displayed for the tourist. The Blayney Wind Farm is 15 kilometres from Blayney on the Mid-Western Highway between Bathurst and Cowra in New South Wales. Blayney is 37 kilometres west of Bathurst and 243 kilometres from Sydney.
Fast Facts About Blayney Wind Farm
- Fifteen Vestas wind turbines with a total generation capacity of 9.9 MW
- Hub height 45 metres
- Rotor diameter 47 metres
- Turbines start when wind speed reaches 14 km/hr
- Maximum power achieved at 61 km/hr
- Turbines shut down when wind speed reaches 90 km/hr
- Pitchable blades control speed to 28 rpm
- Powers the equivalent of 3,500 average Australian homes each year
- Saves 8,000 tonnes per year carbon emissions if compared to coal-fired energy production
- Cost $18 million
- Operated by Eraring Energy who also operate a wind farm at Crookwell in NSW
- Energy produced is distributed to Country Energy for their Green Power program
How Does Wind Energy Work
A generator is driven by the rotation of turbine blades via a gear box to produce 690 volts of electricity. Each wind turbine links to an individual transformer and then to a substation. The angle of the turbine blades is automatically adjusted for maximum efficiency and the turbine direction changes with wind direction to realign so the blades point into the wind. Each wind turbine has its own computer control system which optimizes output and collects data for analysis. Operators can over-ride individual turbine control if necessary.
Blayney Wind Farm Development
Pacific Power International are the Blayney Wind Farm developers. The Blayney Shire Council supported the Wind Farm development on the basis of environmental and tourism benefits. Wind farm construction was undertaken by Consolidated Power Projects Australia and the completed wind farm development was commissioned in October 2000. Wind farm planning in the initial stages carefully considered impacts on the surrounding natural environment to minimise disturbance to flora, fauna, archeology and visual aesthetics of the location. The potential for noise and radio and television interference was also examined.
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