~ Armidale Forum ~

renewable community power

Contents & Program
System of Electricity
Energy Options
Wind Power in Detail
Community Energy
New England Wind ~ Phase1
FORUM
Next Steps & Phase2
Find Out More & Get Involved
 Vision & Purpose
~ a vision is emerging for the New England to
become a net exporter of renewable energy ~

Some $10-20Bn of investment into commercial

renewable energy projects is anticipated.

New England Wind aims to catch this wind,

& build on the take-up of small-scale solar,
st
to be NSW's 1 community wind farm,
with 4-6 turbines,
powering 20% of the Tablelands' homes.
 “Over 50% of Australia’s greenhouse gasses come from
electricity use...the electricity sector [is] the biggest single
contributor... Transport is the second biggest... at 16%.”
NSW Demand for Generation
“Ninety per cent of
electricity used in NSW is
generated from coal-fired
power stations.”
- NSW Industry & Investment
About Wind Power
Most affordable renewable energy &
the only clean technology ready for
large-scale deployment
Highly efficient turbine technology ~ 45% of wind energy to
electricity (coal-fired power 29-37%)
16 countries (including Australia) have more than
1,000 MW of installed wind capacity
Sth Oz & Denmark produce 20% of their electricity with wind
NSW's largest is Capital Wind Farm with 141MW ~
enough for 60,000 households
 Wind Turbine Workings
Noise Noise at the base of a modern turbine is below 35dBA ~ same as traffic 5km away (NSW
has the most stringent noise requirements for wind turbines of any state in the world)
Base Load Electricity supply is managed in 5 minute intervals & wind power reduces demand on
coal & gas plants whenever it blows with fast-response gas plants likely in the future

Embodied With a 20+ year life span the turbine will produce 80 times more energy than is used for
Energy it's construction & operation
Wildlife A 2007 study by the Government of South Australia shows one domestic cat kills more
birds in a year than one wind turbine
Safety 24-hour monitoring, lightening protection, high winds shut down, low flammability
th
S Australia Wind Power 19%
 Community Attitudes
Research

57% of farmers said they would consider

hosting wind turbines on their property.
 Benefits of Community Energy
Distributed & Sustainable energy generation
Community-owned infrastructure, green collar jobs
& business, investment pool for other community
priorities
Community education & capacity building
Model best practice design & development to
influence policy & commercial operators
Join the global community power network
Stimulate possibilities in research, education, clean
technology & more...
Community & Cooperative Energy
Denmark England
100,000+ members 8 wind farms
86% of all wind power 7,000 members
Germany USA
1,000's of cooperatives 70% of all
8% of total energy electricity co-
operative owned
90,000 employees
Scotland
Japan
10 wind farms
11 turbines, 15MW
 Hepburn
Australia's 1st Community Wind Farm

Artists Impression
2 turbines, expected to be operational
by mid 2011, will generate enough power
for all 2,300 homes in Daylesford
Raised $12m & have 1,600 members
 Status Report
180+ Pv Systems & 525kW+ – residential, farms
government & business (1,000% Increase)
125+ SHW Systems – residential & government
12+ Solar Thermal Air Heating & Cooling Systems
145 Home Sustainability Assessments
Nearly $6.5m project value
4 new solar companies in Region
Systems 20-50% more affordable
Training for 30+ tradespeople
Addressing the priority for
Substantial community education a 'new energy future'
identified through NESS
 1
Phase Work
Identify level of support (investment, suitable land
holdings, purchase of electricity, etc)
Research legal & governance structures
Work out the Principles to do it 'right'
Goals

4~6 turbines producing as much power as 20% of

New England Tablelands' homes for 10,000 people
$25~30m investment & community capital
Returns for community ~ dividends, jobs, business,
sustainability fund, clean energy & more
 Innovative Edges
~ extending on Hepburn ~
Institutional investment
Community ownership within commercial farms
Local skills, employment, business
Direct use &/or sale
of power
Benefits for the wider
community

Proposed 7 Turbine Farm ~ Wingates, UK

 Partner Network & Roles
Starfish ~ Forums, Communication & Coordination
Community Energy ~ Embark & Specialists
Landholders ~ Landcare, HiCUB, DECCW
Investment ~ CMG, ADCC
Community Research ~ SLA, UNE
Legal ~ EDO, Wilson & Co
 Sustainable Energy Continuum
~ Reduce ~
Retrofit for efficiency
Energy Star Ratings
Insulation, draft
sealing, double glazing
Curtains & Pelmets
Clean burn additives
~ Reconsider ~
Sustainability
Assessments ~ Renew ~
Appropriate Clothing Shift to clean,
sustainable &
Use passive heating & renewable sources
cooling of energy, heating,
Switch Off Standby cooling & hot water
~ Armidale Forum ~
Keeping the Community Informed
Partners ~ Newsletters, eLists, Meetings
Public & Media Communication
Digital Media
Dialogue Summaries
Digital Stories
Final Documentary
Reports
Greenwich Wind Farm, Ontario
Interim Report (April 2011)
Final Report & Recommendations (May 2011)
 2
Phase
Study is 1st step in 4~5+ year
journey
Phase2 would include
Start-up Funding
Site Identification & Monitoring
Research Turbine Technologies
Grid Connection
Power Sale
Investor Deposits
Member recruitment
 Get Involved & Find Out More
Online Community Survey
Community Forums
Uralla Wed 9 March
Investor & Business Forums
Sign up to eList
Help Recruit Interest
Join us for a Wind Farm
Study Tour
www.starfishenterprises.net
Starfish Hill Wind Farm
South Australia
THANK YOU!!

Starfish Hill Wind Farm

South Australia