❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the Minister for Energy regarding wind speed predictions and actual wind speeds at wind farms in southern WA, particularly Albany. The Minister acknowledges variations and attributes them to cyclical weather patterns.
AnsweredQoN 6143Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Do the wind speeds occurring right along the south of Australia continue to be approximately 5 percent lower for each year than predicted?
(2) If yes to (1), has the Minister an explanation?
(3) If no to (1), has the Minister an explanation?
(4) Has the Albany wind farm seen higher than average wind speeds since 2004?
(2) If yes to (1), has the Minister an explanation?
(3) If no to (1), has the Minister an explanation?
(4) Has the Albany wind farm seen higher than average wind speeds since 2004?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
7 May 2008
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Energy
Response time
34 days
The Minister for Energy has been provided with following response.
(1) The comparison of yearly average wind speeds to historical long term averages varies along the south coast. For example, at the Albany wind farm the wind has been lower than the forecast long term average while at the Esperance wind farms it has been significantly higher.
(2) & (3) Average wind speeds experienced on the South Coast of Western Australia historically vary between years due to the average position of major high pressure systems across that part of the State. While these systems alter seasonally, giving rise to the typical summer and winter wind patterns near the coast, there is also evidence that they also alter on a roughly decade time scale. Hence wind speeds in any given year can be higher or lower than the long term average depending on where you are in the cycle and your geographic location with respect to these systems.
Hence it is likely that the Albany wind farm will experience an increase in the average wind speeds with time while the Esperance wind farms will decrease. Such fluctuations are expected to continue and are considered normal.
(4) The Albany wind farm experienced its highest January wind speeds, and hence generation output, on record this year (2008) and there is some evidence that it is moving into a decade of higher wind speeds. This follows a period of lower winds as discussed in (1).
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(1) The comparison of yearly average wind speeds to historical long term averages varies along the south coast. For example, at the Albany wind farm the wind has been lower than the forecast long term average while at the Esperance wind farms it has been significantly higher.
(2) & (3) Average wind speeds experienced on the South Coast of Western Australia historically vary between years due to the average position of major high pressure systems across that part of the State. While these systems alter seasonally, giving rise to the typical summer and winter wind patterns near the coast, there is also evidence that they also alter on a roughly decade time scale. Hence wind speeds in any given year can be higher or lower than the long term average depending on where you are in the cycle and your geographic location with respect to these systems.
Hence it is likely that the Albany wind farm will experience an increase in the average wind speeds with time while the Esperance wind farms will decrease. Such fluctuations are expected to continue and are considered normal.
(4) The Albany wind farm experienced its highest January wind speeds, and hence generation output, on record this year (2008) and there is some evidence that it is moving into a decade of higher wind speeds. This follows a period of lower winds as discussed in (1).
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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