Albany Wind Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Albany Wind Farm |
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Albany Wind Farm
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| Country | Australia |
| Location | near Albany, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 35°3′29″S 117°47′0″E / 35.05806°S 117.78333°E |
| Status | Operational |
| Commission date | October 2001 |
| Owner(s) | Bright Energy Investments |
The Albany Wind Farm and the Grasmere Wind Farm are two special places near Albany, Western Australia. They are both wind power stations. This means they use the wind to make electricity.
These two farms are right next to each other. Because of this, people often think of them as one big wind farm. They are owned by a company called Bright Energy Investments.
Together, these farms have 18 huge wind turbines. They can make a lot of electricity, up to 35.4 MW. That's enough to power many homes! The first part, the Albany Wind Farm, started making electricity in October 2001. It took ten years of planning to build it. This wind farm can produce 80% of all the electricity that Albany needs.
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How Wind Farms Work
Wind farms like Albany and Grasmere use wind to create clean energy. Wind turbines have large blades that catch the wind. This makes the blades spin. The spinning blades turn a generator inside the turbine. This generator then makes electricity.
Wind energy is a great way to get power. It does not create pollution like burning fossil fuels. It uses a natural resource, the wind, which is always available.
The Turbines at Albany
When it was first built in 2001, the Albany Wind Farm was the biggest of its kind in Australia. It started with 12 wind turbines. Later, in 2011, six more turbines were added. These new ones are part of the Grasmere Wind Farm.
The original 12 turbines are called ENERCON model E66. Each of these turbines has three long blades. These blades are about 35 metres (115 ft) long. They are made from strong materials like fibreglass and kevlar. This makes them very flexible. They can handle strong winds and tough weather conditions.
Turbine Size and Power
The blades are attached to a nose cone. This part alone weighs about 14 tonnes! The turbines sit on tall towers that are 65 metres (213 ft) high. When they were first built, these turbines were the largest in the southern hemisphere.
Each of the original 12 turbines can make 1.8 MW of electricity. The six newer turbines, ENERCON model E70, are even more powerful. They can each make 2.3 MW. All these turbines were made in Germany.
How Turbines Operate
The turbines work automatically. Their three blades can adjust themselves. This helps them get the most power from the wind. They can do this no matter which way the wind blows or how strong it is.
These turbines are built to be very strong. They can stand up to the strongest winds that Albany might have. They also have special protection against lightning. The turbines start making electricity when the wind speed is about 7 kilometres per hour (4 kn). They will shut down if the wind gets too strong, around 130 kilometres per hour (70 kn). They make the most electricity when the wind speed is about 50 kilometres per hour (27 kn).
Location of the Wind Farms
The Albany and Grasmere wind farms are located right on the coast. They are about 12 kilometres (7 mi) south-west of the city of Albany. They are built on a high spot, about 80 metres (262 ft) above the Southern Ocean.
This high location is perfect for catching the wind. It helps the farms make the most electricity possible. Also, they are not far from the main electricity power lines. This makes it easy to send the electricity to homes and businesses. All these things together make this a fantastic place for a wind farm.
A Place to Visit
The wind farms are not just for making electricity. They are also a popular place for tourists to visit in Albany! When the farms were built, money was spent to make them visitor-friendly.
- There are special walkways and viewing towers.
- You can find signs that explain how the wind farm works.
- There are also picnic areas where families can relax.
The road leading to the wind farms was also improved. This makes it easier for visitors to get there. The famous Bibbulmun Track, a long walking trail, also goes through the area. Part of the track had to be moved closer to the cliffs and made safer for walkers.
