Date: 8/04/2014 18:56:29
From: dv
ID: 515713
Subject: 600 MW windpower plant approved

http://reneweconomy.com.au/2014/sa-govt-approves-1-5bn-600mw-ceres-wind-farm-29601

The South Australian government has given approval for the development of a $1.5 billion, 197 turbine wind farm on the Yorke Peninsula in the state’s west.

Managed by Senvion Australia for the Suzlon Group, the 600MW Ceres Project – which would be the largest in the southern hemisphere if built – has been approved subject to conditions relating to its construction, operation and infrastructure, including the laying of under-sea transmission cabling that would connect to Adelaide’s metropolitan electricity grid from Port Julia to St Kilda.
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On this front, Sgardelis says the company has engaged in months of talks with the local community, including comprehensive consultation with 36 separate landowners.

“We’ve continually listened to the community since we announced the project in 2011,” he said. “We’ve imposed 1.3km setbacks, 600 metre spacing between turbines, no overhead power lines, we’ve adjusted the final layout to address community concerns and we have a policy of ‘prudent avoidance’ in design.”
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That will be one of the largest in the world.

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Date: 8/04/2014 19:01:45
From: dv
ID: 515722
Subject: re: 600 MW windpower plant approved

Given that they usually get around 36% cap factor in SA, this works out to $6.94 per mean watt. (1.5e9/(.36*6e8))

Which is not too bad. Not too good either. I’m not sure what finance prices are in Australia now but if you got a business loan at 6%p.a., this would mean the interest would be $0.42 per mean watt year. A watt year is 8.8 kWh so this means about 4.8 cents per kWh. Someone check my working but this seems not too ridiculously expensive.

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Date: 8/04/2014 19:02:22
From: buffy
ID: 515723
Subject: re: 600 MW windpower plant approved

>>That will be one of the largest in the world.<<

People just keep ‘needing’ more and more electricity. It’s gotta come from somewhere.

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Date: 8/04/2014 19:12:11
From: Bubblecar
ID: 515727
Subject: re: 600 MW windpower plant approved

Well good luck to them, I say.

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Date: 9/04/2014 08:06:09
From: The_observer
ID: 515974
Subject: re: 600 MW windpower plant approved

So the 1.5 billion project has a 25 year life expectancy.

That’s 60 million $ for each year .

“capable of generating 600MW of electricity through 197 turbines,
or enough to power 225,000 South Australian homes.”

Actual capability (efficiency) – - 20 to 25 % of 600MW / year on average.

“It is estimated that the wind farm will generate up to $8 million per year in local benefits,

including important off farm income for host farmers,”

Oh yes, those lucky ‘host’ landowners!

The Adelaide Advertiser 2014

The $1.5 billion Ceres project will be developed across 18,000ha near Black Point, 25-year life of the project.

Port Julia Progress Association president Kevin Ising said it was dividing opinion among the 100 residents
of his town, located about 2.1 km from the nearest turbine. It’s broken the community in places, It’s a shame
to see it,” he said.
Sections of the surrounding community are keen for it to go ahead, including the 36 landowners who would host
turbines and earn tens of thousands of dollar in payments from developer, REpower.

Mr McFarlane, one of the original landowners to invite REpower to look at the Ceres project, also highlighted
other benefits such as the early arrival of the National Broadband Network.

Others are concerned the 600MW wind farm would scar the local landscape.
“It’s the rape of the rural environment,” Port Julia resident Brian Cherry, 71, said.
“It completely changes the whole environment over here that my wife and I retired to.”

Since the project was made public in August 2011, some landholders have been concerned that aerial crop
spraying and aerial water bombing would be impeded.
Black Point Progress Association deputy chairman and prominent South Australian businessman
Roger Sexton said the project would have a detrimental effect on tourism and crop yields in the region.

“Economic models suggest that the negative impacts on the tourism industry of Yorke Peninsula could
be a loss of income to the region of at least $60 million to $80 million per annum,” he said.

“Because aerial agriculture will be impeded by the development, local farmers and agronomy companies
have estimated that annual crop yields on the impacted farm lands will be reduced by at least 10 per cent,
with possible losses of up to 80 per cent in the case of severe pest, disease or fire outbreaks.”

When aerial spraying is required by an adjacent land owner, turbines within 500 metres of the land owner’s
boundary must be shut down.

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Date: 10/04/2014 12:33:09
From: sibeen
ID: 516511
Subject: re: 600 MW windpower plant approved

An article from the Daily Telegraph (UK) on Solar power. Quite and interesting read:

Global solar dominance in sight as science trumps fossil fuels.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/10755598/Global-solar-dominance-in-sight-as-science-trumps-fossil-fuels.html

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Date: 10/04/2014 12:45:57
From: The Rev Dodgson
ID: 516516
Subject: re: 600 MW windpower plant approved

sibeen said:


An article from the Daily Telegraph (UK) on Solar power. Quite and interesting read:

Global solar dominance in sight as science trumps fossil fuels.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/10755598/Global-solar-dominance-in-sight-as-science-trumps-fossil-fuels.html

Can’t see an Australian conservative paper printing an article like that.

It will be interesting to see if things really do develop in the way suggested.

If Bill’s liquid fuel from sea water (+ energy) really works (or some alternative way) it would help.

Good news for electrical engineers if we need to rely on transmission by cable though I suppose :)

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