Portland Wind Project

The Portland Wind Project is one of Australia's largest wind farms. Located on the coast of south-western Victoria near the city of Portland, it consists of four separate sites. Completion of the entire 195 MW project is expected in 2007/08, at a capital cost of 270 million Australian dollars.

The project will then produce more than 500 GWh annually, enough electricity to power about 125,000 homes each year, and equal to more than 7 per cent of Victoria’s residential electricity demand, or powering a city the size of Geelong. The project is being developed by Pacific Hydro.Cite web|url=http://www.pacifichydro.com.au/OurEnergy/WindEnergy/PortlandWindProject/tabid/134/Default.aspx |title=Portland Wind Project|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=August 31|publisher=Pacific Hyro|year=2007|author=Pacific Hyro|language=English]

The Danish turbine manufacturer, Vestas, constructed a blade manufacturing facility at nearby Portland in August 2005. Blades from the plant were intended to support the project, however blades were instead sourced from overseas, and the facility to be closed down from December 2007. [cite news
last =
first =
title = Green Energy Market Unviable: Vestas
pages =
publisher = The Age
date = 2007-08-22
url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Debate-over-wind-energy-factory-closure/2007/08/22/1187462306939.html
accessdate = 2007-10-01 ]

tages

* Yambuk Wind Farm, the first stage of the project, consists of 20 turbines, each 105 metres high in total, and with a maximum rated output of 1.5 MW each for a total maximum capacity of 30 MW. These were installed in early 2005. It is adjacent to the existing Codrington Wind Farm, and is expected to produce more than 90GWh annually at a capital cost of about 50 million Australian dollars.
* Stage two consists of another 100 turbines at three sites:
** Cape Bridgewater (complete)
** Cape Nelson (currently under construction)
** Cape Sir William Grant

Controversy

The planning minister approved the construction of wind towers on the Portland capes, including Cape Bridgewater, against the recommendations of the a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing and of a government appointed panel. [cite news
last = Baillieu
first = Ted
title = Don't Ruin our Coast with Wind Farms
pages =
publisher = The Age
date = 2003-09-20
url = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/19/1063625211962.html?from=storyrhs
accessdate = 2007-10-01 ] Planning Minister Mary Delahunty has since admitted that she had neither visited the coastline nor seen a windfarm at the time.

References

ee also

*Pacific Hydro
*Wind power in Australia

External links

* [http://www.pacifichydro.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=134 Portland Wind Project] .
* [http://pachydro.staging.cim.com.au/OurEnergy/WindEnergy/YambukWindFarm/tabid/133/Default.aspx Yambuk Wind Farm] .
* [http://www.pacifichydro.com.au/Portals/0/220107_PWEP_info_centre.pdf Information Centre open]