Eye Sore

[101RRS]

Just north of Canberra at Lake George, a decision has been made to contruct a large number of wind generators on the eastern shore of the lake (now dry). These are approximately 50m high and have not yet been completed.

What an eye-sore.

I am not a conservationist but I do believe that we must seek alternative means of generating power and I do accept that includes these monsters - but really consideration has to also be given to the visual pollution. I may be wrong but I understand that these things do not generate a lot of power and when all is considered in the "whole of life" context- power generated vs use in build and maintenance I believe energy produced is minimal.

Garry

[Slunnie]

I stopped for an eat at the bottom of one of these at Hampton recently. I was just completely blown away by the size of these things! They are huuuuuge! But they do impress me greatly from an engineering/construction perspective. I actually don't mind them to be honest, and think that they can also be a source of interest and beauty. On the flip side, ironically today I was driving down the Mitchell Hwy and decided that I hate lines of Poplars.... so there you go.

[B92 8NW]

I stopped for an eat at the bottom of one of these at Hampton recently. I was just completely blown away by the size of these things! They are huuuuuge! But they do impress me greatly from an engineering/construction perspective. I actually don't mind them to be honest, and think that they can also be a source of interest and beauty. On the flip side, ironically today I was driving down the Mitchell Hwy and decided that I hate lines of Poplars.... so there you go.

x2

Beautiful in their own right.


(Just don't say that to the antis in SE vic)

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Don't know if I fully agree with you Garry.

The efficiency of wind turbines is something like 59%, where as solar (photovoltaic) cells are only around 20% or less and only work during the 50% of the diurnal cycle when there is sunlight. Granted there are not always winds appropriate for wind generation (windspeed too high or too low), however in the area you mention I would assume that there are reasonably good planetary winds (prevaling winds caused by the rotation of the planet). The locations on the windward rising westerly slope will prevent the turbulence of the hilltops and the leeward slope. The height of 50M means that the tip of the blade will be above 20M at it's lowest point of the arc, meaning that it will be able to efficiently capture the most energy and not be adversly effeted by the varying power and windspeed at lower heights (ground effects). The construction and maintenance of wind generation whilst high per kilowatt is offset by the fact that the resource required to run the turbine is free.

With low rainfall and short mountains, hydro-electric generation in this country is not a viable option and coal has issues with CO2. I am singularly against nuclear power generation which is more expensive than any of the other options in a "whole-of-life" of many many human generations basis. So I believe that we need a variety of alternate forms of power generation which must include, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, wave, geothermal and unfortunately visually upsetting wind.

[p38arover]

I don't mind wind generators. Take a run into Crookwell, there is a wind farm on the road in to there.

Speaking of size, have a look at this blade from a generator. The bloke who owns that truck said the blades range from 37.3m to 42m in length.

http://rangerovers.net/forum/download/file.php?id=910

[slug_burner]

Each one of the generators is probably generating 250 kw. The blades can be turned to alter the pitch so they can run at pretty much any wind speed.

I suspect we will have to get use to them as more of them are popping up around the place.

[p38arover]

Denmark:

[Slunnie]

I was reading the written signage about the ones near me (near Blayney) and I think with those ones at least, when the wind speeds gets too high they stop them.

ok, here is some info from Country Energy on Crookwells wind farm.

Wind farm facts & figures

• The Crookwell Wind Farm has eight 45 metre-high generators. The three-bladed rotors on each turbine have a 44 metre diameter and a rotational speed of 28 revolutions per minute (rpm).
• Each generator is comprised of a 36 tonne steel tower and 27.5 tonne worth of hub, blades and casing. The generator towers or turbines are set in 105 cubic metres of reinforced concrete foundation.
• Each turbine can generate approximately 600 kilowatts of power, giving a total power output of almost five megawatts. This is enough to meet the average electricity demands of 3,500 homes. The turbines are connected to the national grid by 3,300 metres of buried 11,000 volt cable.
• The wind farm's turbines automatically start turning when wind speed is greater than 15 km/hr. The turbines reach maximum power at wind speeds of 54 km/hr and automatically shut down in very high winds greater than 72 km/hr. The turbines are also protected by a lightning protection system.

[Slunnie]

Ron, that would be such a good water based slalom course!!!

[101RRS]

Nope - sorry - your are all wrong - they are ugly.

Lets build them in your backyard

So each of these can power only 250 electric steam irons - wow

Yes I admire the engineering but . It is a wonder they did not build them on top of the escarpment to the west of the lake where the winds are stronger and even more consistent - I would rather watch the eagles that were soaring the air waves when I took the long range shots than inefficient wind mills.

Grrrr