The State Government has normalised power supplies in the Coral Bay area, after completing a $14 million energy supply project with the unveiling of new wind turbines at the Coral Bay wind farm and power station over the weekend.
The State Government has normalised power supplies in the Coral Bay area, after completing a $14 million energy supply project with the unveiling of new wind turbines at the Coral Bay wind farm and power station over the weekend.
The full text of an announcement from Energy Minister Francis Logan is pasted below
New wind turbines that can be lowered to the ground during extreme weather conditions have been unveiled at Coral Bay.
It is the first time they have been built anywhere in Western Australia.
The turbines are part of the new Coral Bay wind farm and power station, which was officially opened by Energy Minister Francis Logan today.
The opening signals the normalisation of power supplies in the area and the completion of a $14 million project that has seen Horizon Power assume responsibility for power supplies in Coral Bay.
Three privately owned and operated electricity generators previously serviced the area using a limited distribution network.
Mr Logan said Horizon Power teamed up with Verve Energy to build the new wind farm and low-load diesel power station on the fringe of the town.
He said the power station consisted of seven 320kW low-load diesel engines, with a total capacity of 2,240kW.
"Three 275kW wind turbines have also been installed at the wind farm, which is enough to generate up to 45 per cent of Coral Bay's annual electricity requirements," the Minister said.
"This is expected to save 440,000 litres of diesel each year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1,160 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
"The fact that the turbines can be lowered and raised as required in extreme weather conditions provides Verve Energy with a tremendous opportunity to use similar turbines in cyclone-prone areas."
Mr Logan said Horizon Power had also constructed a new 22,000-volt underground power network for the distribution of the electricity in Coral Bay, using nine kilometres of cable.
Street lighting had been replaced with modern high-pressure sodium lights.
The Minister said that as a result of the project, residents and businesses in Coral Bay would receive electricity at Government-gazetted prices.
"Regional communities serviced by Horizon Power pay the same price per unit of electricity, regardless of where they live in WA," he said.
"The Coral Bay community will now also benefit from this arrangement."
Mr Logan congratulated Horizon Power and Verve Energy on another successful partnership.
"The use of Coral Bay's natural resource - the wind - to generate power for the area is a significant contribution to renewable energy in WA," he said.
"This section of the WA coast is earning an international reputation for its pristine environment.
"The use of renewable generating equipment and the construction of an unobtrusive underground power network provides 21st Century amenity without impacting on what people flock here to experience.
"The result is low environmental and visual impact infrastructure that will help sustain Coral Bay as the natural wonder we have come to love."
The Minister said Horizon Power had also established retail services to customers in Coral Bay.
The Coral Bay power project was supported by the Australian Government through the Renewable Remote Power Generation Program. This program was funded from diesel excise paid in WA and was administered in WA by the State Government's Sustainable Energy Development Office.
