❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the operational life of the Ten Mile Lagoon wind farm and potential replacement plans. The government clarifies the wind farm's lifespan, replacement considerations, and limitations on renewable energy supply due to a commercial agreement with a private power station.
AnsweredQoN 381Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
TEN MILE
LAGOON WIND FARM — OPERATIONAL LIFE
381. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Energy:
(1) What is the
estimated remaining operational life of the Ten Mile Lagoon wind farm at
Esperance?
(2) Does the
government have plans to replace the Ten Mile Lagoon wind farm with a new wind
farm when it reaches the end of its operating life?
(3) Is the amount
of power able to be delivered to the Esperance power grid by wind farms
artificially limited by any means?
(4) If yes to (3),
why; and what means are used?
LAGOON WIND FARM — OPERATIONAL LIFE
381. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Energy:
(1) What is the
estimated remaining operational life of the Ten Mile Lagoon wind farm at
Esperance?
(2) Does the
government have plans to replace the Ten Mile Lagoon wind farm with a new wind
farm when it reaches the end of its operating life?
(3) Is the amount
of power able to be delivered to the Esperance power grid by wind farms
artificially limited by any means?
(4) If yes to (3),
why; and what means are used?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of this question.
(1) The Ten Mile
Lagoon wind farm was installed in 1993 and reaches its nominal design life in
2013. Verve Energy undertook a study of the condition of the wind farm in 2012
with independent engineers from SKM, which concluded that the wind farm is
capable of safely operating for another three to five years.
(2) Verve Energy
has no immediate plans to replace the Ten Mile Lagoon wind farm when it reaches
the end of its operating life; however, the site on which the Ten Mile Lagoon
wind farm is located has an excellent wind resource and a new project on the
site would be considered at this time if it was able to meet social, environmental,
technical and commercial requirements.
(3) Esperance is
supplied by a gas-fired power station owned by the private sector. The energy
that the Ten Mile Lagoon and nearby Nine Mile Beach wind farms produce
displaces electricity generation from this power station. Currently, Verve
Energy is constrained to a maximum amount of renewable energy that may be
supplied from these wind farms each year. Any increase to this level would need
to be negotiated with the private sector owner.
(4) The private
power station owner has a commercial arrangement with Horizon Power for the
output of the power station. The level of renewable energy supplied by Verve
Energy has been capped to provide certainty to this power station's
revenue. The wind farms are constrained by a control system between the power
station and the wind farm.
some notice of this question.
(1) The Ten Mile
Lagoon wind farm was installed in 1993 and reaches its nominal design life in
2013. Verve Energy undertook a study of the condition of the wind farm in 2012
with independent engineers from SKM, which concluded that the wind farm is
capable of safely operating for another three to five years.
(2) Verve Energy
has no immediate plans to replace the Ten Mile Lagoon wind farm when it reaches
the end of its operating life; however, the site on which the Ten Mile Lagoon
wind farm is located has an excellent wind resource and a new project on the
site would be considered at this time if it was able to meet social, environmental,
technical and commercial requirements.
(3) Esperance is
supplied by a gas-fired power station owned by the private sector. The energy
that the Ten Mile Lagoon and nearby Nine Mile Beach wind farms produce
displaces electricity generation from this power station. Currently, Verve
Energy is constrained to a maximum amount of renewable energy that may be
supplied from these wind farms each year. Any increase to this level would need
to be negotiated with the private sector owner.
(4) The private
power station owner has a commercial arrangement with Horizon Power for the
output of the power station. The level of renewable energy supplied by Verve
Energy has been capped to provide certainty to this power station's
revenue. The wind farms are constrained by a control system between the power
station and the wind farm.
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