It’s now cheaper to build a new wind farm than to keep a coal plant running

Inflation dictates that the cost of living will continue to rise — except, it seems, when it comes to renewable energy. The cost of building a new utility-scale solar or wind farm has now dropped below the cost of operating an existing coal plant, according to an analysis by the investment bank Lazard. Accounting for government tax credits and other energy incentives would bring the cost even lower.

"There are some scenarios, in some parts of the U.S., where it is cheaper to build and operate wind and solar than keep a coal plant running," said a Lazard banker who was involved in the report. "You have seen coal plants shutting down because of this."

Every year, the investment bank analyzes the cost of different types of energy using a metric called the levelized cost of energy, or LCOE. This analysis factors in the cost of components and the cost of operations, as well as the cost of debt, to come up with the smallest dollar amount, per unit of energy, for an investor in the project to see a 12 percent return. 

Read the CBS News story by Irina Ivanova - “It’s now cheaper to build a new wind farm than to keep a coal plant running.”

Winds of change for Golden Plains as huge wind farm gets go-ahead.

A massive 170 square kilometre wind farm has passed the final Victorian planning hurdle, and could be powering in four years if the federal government approves the project.

The Golden Plains wind farm has passed
the final Victorian planning hurdle.CREDIT:

The $1.5 billion wind farm, sprawling over 17,000 hectares near the small town of Rokewood south of Ballarat, passed environmental approvals last month.

Acting Planning Minister Lily D’Ambrosio will on Saturday announce the Victorian government has granted a planning permit for the project in the Golden Plains Shire.

All that remains is for the federal government to sign off on it.

Read the story from The Age by Bianca Hall and Adam Carey -“Winds of change for Golden Plains as huge wind farm gets go-ahead.”

Airstrip used in firefighting threatened by proposed wind farm

A south-west Victorian airport instrumental in fighting the St Patrick's Day bushfires could be forced to close if a proposed wind farm is approved by the state planning minister.

The location of the proposed wind turbines drawn on the Cobden airport window.

The $100 million Naroghid Wind Farm project plans to build 12 wind turbines on the outskirts of Cobden, seven kilometres south-east of Camperdown.

According to those who run the airstrip, the location is a problem.

Part of the farm's proposed site borders the northern edge of the Cobden Airport, with four of the 180-metre-high towers to be built within kilometres of the start of the runway.

Read the ABC Rural News story - “Airstrip used in firefighting threatened by proposed wind farm.”

Nundle mulls wind farm benefits, jobs and visual impact

THE proposed $600-million wind farm near Nundle would bring more than 300 jobs to the region, the project’s developer says.

PICTURESQUE: The main concern about the proposal is
 about the visual impact it will have on Nundle's hills of gold.

The 98-wind turbine proposal from Wind Energy Partners would need a workforce of 272 during its 18 to 24 month construction phase.

Once completed, there would be up to 34 ongoing jobs to operate and maintain the wind farm over its 25-year lifetime.

There is also the potential for the project to include a solar farm, located on Lindsays Gap Rd, near Old Wallabadah Rd, towards the New England Hwy.

Wind Energy Partners have suggested it would create a community investment fund, to give back to the region around the wind farm.

Read from The National Daily Leader - “Nundle mulls wind farm benefits, jobs and visual impact.”

Smart Battery for the World’s First Floating Wind Farm

Hywind Scotland, the world’s first floating wind farm, will next year be equipped with a battery to store power from the wind farm. The purpose is to “teach” the battery when to hold back and store electricity, and when send power to the grid, thus increasing value of the power.

Statoil now has awarded a contract to Younicos to deliver a 1MW battery system that will be connected to Hywind Scotland. The storage solution project, named Batwind, will be operational from Q2 2018. This is the first battery storage system connected to a floating wind farm.

“As part of Statoil‘s strategy of gradually supplementing our oil and gas portfolio with profitable renewable energy, getting to understand energy storage is important. We believe battery storage will be key to future power systems, and with more renewables coming on it will be crucial to handle storage to ensure stability and reliability in the energy supply. Batwind adds value by mitigating wind variability – and by that make wind a more reliable energy producer year around. That will expand the use and market for wind and renewables in the future.”, says head of Hywind Development in Statoil, Sebastian Bringsværd.

Read the Science and Technology Research News story - “Smart Battery for the World’s First Floating Wind Farm.”

‘Desultory': Wind farm complaints aren't keeping up with surging industry

The surge in new wind farm developments has failed to produce an upswing in complaints, with just nine of the 79 projects operating in Australia receiving any formal objections, Andrew Dyer, the National Wind Farm Commissioner, has said. 

Lining up: Few operating wind farms in Australia attract complaints.

As of the end of October, the commission had received 54 complaints, for existing projects, with all but two resolved. Four people had relocated as part of the resolution process.

"There are no complaints for recently completed wind farms," Mr Dyer told Fairfax Media.

Victorian wind farms have attracted the bulk of objections, accounting for 31 of the 54, while SA and NSW had 16 and seven complaints, respectively. Operating wind farms in other states have not triggered any complaints, Mr Dyer said.

Read Peter Hannam’s story in today”s Melbourne Age - “‘Desultory': Wind farm complaints aren't keeping up with surging industry.”

Wind will power hydroponic farm

A huge new wind farm will power a hydroponic farm in western Victoria as part of a $565million expansion.

A huge new wind farm will power a hydroponic
farm in western Victoria in $556 million expansion. 

The Nectar Farms business at Stawell will expand from 10ha to 40 and be powered by a new wind farm and battery storage facility.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the project would make Nectar Farms the world’s first-ever protected crop farm completely powered by renewable energy.

Read the Country News story  - “Wind will power hydroponic farm.”

$650m windfarm - power for thousands, while caring for breeding, flocking brolgas

The $650 million wind farm, to be built
near Dundonnell, will have 96 turbines.

Victoria's most productive wind farm generating enough power for 140,000 households will be built in the south-west after the state government approved the plans.

The $650 million wind farm, to be built near Dundonnell, will have 96 turbines.

Once completed, it will produce enough power to supply the combined populations of Ballarat and Warrnambool.

The project will create an estimated 300 jobs during construction, with 16 positions once it is built.

The plans received 135 submissions, including 49 in support.

The wind farm's layout was designed to accommodate brolga breeding and flocking habits, according to the government.

Read Benjamin Preiss’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Record-breaking, brolga-friendly, $650m wind farm gets government green light.”

Second wind farm approved in Scotland

S

cotland approved the construction of a new 64.6 MW wind farm in the country’s south, while at the same time refusing the construction of another.

Scotland’s Energy Minister, Fergus Ewing, announced on Monday that consent had been given to PNE WIND UK Limited to construct a wind farm of 19 turbines with an installed capacity of 64.6 MW, to be located on land in Kennoxhead, south of Glespin in South Lanarkshire.

According to the press release provided by the Scottish Government, PNE’s community energy commitment is likely to benefit the Glespin community by £8 million over the 25 year operating period.

Read the CleanTechnica story - “Scotland Approves New Wind Farm”.

Cherry Tree Range wind farm is approved

The idea for wind farm that will power about 20 000 homes has been given the go ahead.

The “Cherry Tree Range” wind farm has been approved the planning application for the farm.

A release from the BEAM Mitchell Environment Group headed: “BEAM welcomes the VACT decision to approve the Cherry Tree Range Wind Farm” acknowledges some disagreement in the community.

BEAM president, Mr Richard Telford, said, “We hope all parties might agree that we should now heal some divisions and work towards achieving the best possible outcome.”