Ageing, cyclone-proof “tilt up” wind turbines to be replaced at edge of coral paradise

A set of ageing and cyclone-proof “tilt up” wind turbines located near Coral Bay in Western Australia are to be replaced after coming to the end of their life and supplying up to 95 per cent of the local community’s power needs at time.

The three 275 kW wind turbines at Coral Bay were opened in 2007, and were called “tilt up” turbines because the two-blade machines could be laid down on the ground in the case of an approaching cyclone.

The three turbines have provided up to 95 per cent of the local power needs at times, and an average of 45 per cent over the year, supported by a 576 kW, 343 kWh lithium-ion battery in the local microgrid.

Horizon Power, which is responsible for remote and isolated power systems across much of W.A., sent out a request for proposal last year and is about to move to the next stage with a request for tender to install new turbines and recycle the existing ones.

A former neighbour, Rebecca Monck, wrote on LinkedIn this week that before the three wind turbines were installed, a diesel generator had to be manually switched on each morning and off each night – by her father.

“Almost every morning, from 1972 until 2007, [my Dad would] get up while we all slept and turn on the township’s electricity supply by starting our diesel generators, before shutting them down again after everyone else went to bed,” Monck wrote.

Horizon Power says on its website that it has been engaging with the local community about its options. Coral Bay is located on world-heritage listed coastline that includes the Ningaloo Reef.

Horizon says the goal is to replace the ageing and less efficient older turbines with “modern, more efficient technology” which will in turn increase renewable energy generation in Coral Bay.

Once a preferred technological solution has been selected, Horizon Power expects the wind turbine replacement project will take approximately three years to complete.

The company says it is looking at recycling certain components from the existing wind turbines, which were built by French company Vergnet, a specialist in small two-bladed turbines that could be laid on the ground.

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