How is Wind power gaining popularity in Australia?

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Wind power is gaining popularity across the world. It is one of the promising forms of renewable energy. Wind power is environment-friendly, do not emit greenhouse gases and reduces dependence on fossil fuels and kerogene gases. South Australia has high potential to harness wind as an energy source. There are over 50 wind farms in Australia out of which 13 farms (with an installed capacity of 1018 megawatts) are located in South Australia. It is due to the region’s proximity to the Roaring forties. As of April 2011, South Australia meets 51% of the nation’s wind turbines installed capacity. As of October 2011, South Australia’s wind power projects generated 1,205 MW of electricity which accounts to 21 % of state's energy production. Australian Government is constructing an additional 184 MW of wind farms.

What are the places in South Australia that have harnessed Wind Power?

As of December 2011, Canunda, Bluff Range, Brown Hill Range, Clement’s Gap, Cathedral Rocks, Mount Millar, Lake Bonney, Snowtown, North Brown Hill, Starfish Hill, Waterloo, Wattlepoint and Hallett Hill are some of the places where wind power projects have been commissioned in South Australia.

What are the impacts of Wind Power in South Australia?

• Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Wind power displaces coal and gas powered electricity production. As a result, wind farms play significant role in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. It has been estimated that if a 50 MW wind farm is operating at 30% capacity factor, 120,231 tons of carbon dioxide emission is into the atmosphere is prevented each year
• Impact on landscape and environment: Wind turbines installation requires only a small plot of land. As a result, agricultural areas can be easily used for building wind farms. Moreover, the chances of collisions of bats and birds with wind turbine blades are minimal. On average, 5 bats get killed by wind turbine in a year. This is almost equal to 2550 birds or bats per year. This figure is negligible in comparison to4.25-8.5 millions of birds that are killed every year in Queensland as a result of land clearing. The positive effects of wind power on climate change should be given more importance rather than these miniscule figures.
• Less Noise Pollution:  A normal conversation can take place right at the base of the wind blades without much disturbance. Sound pressure level of 35-45 dBA at 350m is created by a wind farm with 10 turbines. This is equivalent to the noise produced in a quiet bedroom or a village at night time.

What is the latest Wind Power controversy in South Australia?

South Australian Liberal leader Isobel Redmond finds wind power to the least efficient among all the renewable sources of energy. She has committed to protect residents from the possible social, economic, and health impacts of wind power if the Liberals won the 2014 election. In her second liberal policy, she announced the following key elements:

• No construction of wind farms will take place within 5km of townships. 
• Residents and neighbors will be allowed to challenge construction of wind farms.
• A state-wide wind farm zoning plan will be drafted for declaring some areas off limits.
• Inter-state government will determine national standards for noise created from wind power.
• Guidelines for firefighting around turbines will be enforced. Turbines often generate heat which can cause fires in grasslands or farms.
• Landowners would be financially protected from the adverse effects of wind power developments. They would be compensated for economic losses due to aerial spraying.

What is the future of Wind Power in South Australia?

The Australian Government is determined to reduce dependency on traditional fossil fuel by 2020.They are working towards alternative energy sources. Solar and geothermal energy production projects are close to being competitive but these are not commercially ready yet. They will take many years to 'scale-up' to become major sources of energy. Biomass is being used to generate electricity, but its capacity is limited. Wind power is the only economically competitive form of sustainable energy. The west facing coasts of South Australia are perfect for wind power projects. Coffin Bay on Eyre Peninsula and Yorke Peninsula are ideal sites for wind farms construction. However, certain factors are limiting the growth of the wind industry. There is lack of electricity transmission lines where they are needed. Governments are more willing to build transmission lines to new coal mines, but unwilling to install new lines for the sake of  large-scale development of wind farms. Kangaroo Island was well suited for wind turbine development. However, the region lacked the power transmission infrastructure. Recently, a section of the local population is opposing to the building of new wind farms on questionable claims that wind turbines cause ill-health. This can seriously dampen the future of wind energy projects. In South Australia, wind power's potential is more than 91 GW. The government should use its renewable policy instruments to impose carbon tax on fossil fuel usage and provide subsidies for establishing wind farms. Australia's Clean Energy Council (CEC) has launched the campaign 'power in wind' to promote wind energy as the most cost-effective renewable energy source. This organization aims to provide the local community with information to nullify the influence of anti-wind campaigners.

For more information on Wind Energy, click on the links below:

Dragonfly Wings inspired Wind Turbine Design

Top Wind Farms in the World

Types of Renewable Energy

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