AGL secures rights for second wind farm

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Business/AGL-secures-rights-for-second-wind-farm/2007/05/11/1178390526260.html

Australia's largest retail energy supplier AGL Energy has snapped up the development rights for a second wind farm in South Australia.

The go-ahead for the SA project, 200km north of Adelaide, comes as AGL Energy is constructing a $236 million 95 MW wind farm almost 20km away, which is expected to be Australia's largest.

"The Hallett Hill development could provide enough renewable energy to power 40,000 average Australian households and abate approximately 250,000 tonnes of C02," Mr Anthony said.

He said by the end of the decade, AGL could be operating 134 wind turbines in South Australia with a combined capacity of 255MW.

"Combined with an existing 645MW of hydro, with a further 145MW currently under construction, and an additional 400MW of wind generation permitted and under investment consideration, these assets will make AGL far and away the largest listed owner and developer of renewable generation in Australasia," he said.

AGL expects to build 34 wind turbines with a total capacity of 71MW at Hallet Hill, which is expected to enter commercial operation in the second half of 2009.

I heard of a wind powered mill designed for multistory buildings in cities.
These buildings cause an updraft. The wind mill is mounted about 2 - 3 meters above the roof and about 1.5 meters inside the edge of the building. Apparently this is the postion for the most updraft.
They are in europe and could be used in any building in any city.
Probably the largest output would be during the hottest days when it is required the most.

The wind mills are in a cylinder shape as opposed to the traditional wheel shaped ones. The wind is moving vertically as opposed to horizontally.

Seems there are a few different options to be explored ?

Wonder of they could be used to heat water ?

yes, solar or gas is simple and direct.
To convert wind power to mains is a bit complex. It is supplied at a varying AC voltage and frequency.
Is normally converted to DC, stored in batteries, then reconverted back into ac at the correct ac voltage and frequency. Also have to put it in synch with the maoins supply.
A bit complex.

Supposing the AC from the windmill is fed directly into heating coils in the water.
The coils will take any voltage or frequency.  It is kept isolated completely from the AC mains supply.
Cheap, efficient, durable, reliable. Sort of like me. 

yes, the simpler method would forego selling the electricity or using it anywhere else.
The simpler method would be a LOT cheaper to install, maintenance and testing woujld be negligable.
I see it as working in addiition to an existing mains electrical syatem , in muchthe same way as a solar water heating system does.

Might do some research about putting one in at work . We have a tall building and use hot water.

Will be interesting. The boss always quashes ideas of mine, so what ??

Cheap, efficient, durable, reliable. Sort of like me.  Smiley

Simple physics should tell you that converting electricity to heat and back is neither efficient nor cheap.

...sort of like me 

Even though it is wrong

How so Sprint?

I take a keen interest in this type of technology, same as solar- and a lot of the marketing and hype is just that. Same as solar water heaters are really inefficient electric hot water systems with a solar booster- unless you fork out for the more expensive gas boosted system which aren't really common.

Wind is a reasonable option for generating some forms of power, but converting it to heat to generate electricity is definitely not efficient.

Quote:

Not inefficient - stupid and redundant. Heat energy is only generated to be converted into work energy, to use work energy to create heat that in turn generates more work will just result in lost energy or a violation of the second law of thermodynamics.

I think in terms of what sprint was getting at, it is likely that it is still more efficient to use a windmill to generate electricity and use the electricity to generate heat. Electricity is a suprisingly efficient method of generating heat.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking-news/wind-hydrogen-ltd-launches-12m-ipo/2007/06/20/1182019190727.html

Renewable energy company Wind Hydrogen Ltd launched its $12 million public offer on Wednesday, saying the funds raised would help develop wind farms in Australia and the UK.

Wind Hydrogen - chaired by a former NSW premier, Neville Wran - is offering 60 million shares at 20 cents a piece, to raise $12 million.

Wind Hydrogen has plans for 19 wind farms in the UK and one in Australia, with a capacity of 350 megawatts.