Last December some electrical power generation information for the Wonthaggi wind farm came my way. The information provides the power produced, or used, each hour for each of the 6 turbines between 1 June 06 and 22 June 06. Although it is for a limited period it illustrates, particularly when graphed, where the problem lies with wind power. That is, because it is dependent on wind availability and strength, the power produced is variable and unpredictable, requiring that some other electric power source be available at short notice to supplement what a wind farm produces.

Andrew Chapman's comments:

The attached report clearly shows the complexity of managing the electricity grid. NEMMCO is dealing with a particular situation that resulted in the blackout last summer however it also clearly indicates why wind generated electricity cannot be dumped into the grid just because the wind's blowing at a particular time. Generators have to forecast ahead and then be bound by that as a constraint. All dumping of erratically produced wind power into the grid might do is make light bulbs glow a bit stronger from time to time.

This indepth 142-page report looks at many dimensions of wind power including its contribution to sustainable energy; New Zealand developments to date; international trends; impacts on landscapes and communities; legal and policy frameworks; and case studies from Auckland, Wellington, and Manawatu.

The Guidelines require that “In order to facilitate a viable wind energy industry, planning applications need to include sufficient information and explanation to allow responsible authorities to come to sound and timely decisions”. Unfortunately, the application for a planning permit by Macarthur Wind Farm P/L fails to include sufficient information. The panel should therefore recommend that the a permit not be granted, and should ask the proponent to resubmit its application with (i) A full estimate of all economic costs of the proposal, both internal and external. (ii) A soundly based forecast of greenhouse gas abatement outcomes, based on the best available data and an independent, peer reviewed computer modelling of the NEM (iii) A full, project specific, assessment of the energy and greenhouse gas costs of the proposal itself, including all directly and indirectly associated activities.

Submission by Origin Energy in response to the Issues Paper released by Department of Infrastructure and Department of Sustainability and Environment, December 2005

A submission to the Victorian Government’s issues paper “driving investment in renewable energy in victoria” ENERGY ISSUES PAPER 40

Billions of dollars are being spent to stop so-called manmade global warming. Already we have been told "it is a bigger threat to manking than international terrorism", with runaway warming, rises in sea levels and increases in the number of floods, hurricanes, droughts and tropical diseases predicted.

Faced with this, a pragmatic technological society might decide it would get best value for money by modernising existing inefficient coal-fired stations, building nuclear power stations and efficient transport. But instead, we have poured sources into renewables.