King Island wind-diesel power system: Environmental impact and economic evaluation

The Tasmanian Hydro Electric Commission (HEC) has recently completed a feasibility study for a wind farm on King Island to supplement its existing diesel power station that supplies the electricity grid. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been conducted as part of the feasibility study. A key aspect of the EIA included the involvement of landowners and other interested parties with the project in order to seek their views and to alleviate any concerns as to any adverse impacts. Some external consultants were engaged in the environmental impact studies that required special expertise. A simulation model, developed to evaluate project benefits, has shown that a wind farm could generate between 18 percent to 21 percent per annum of the grid energy. This would represent a considerable improvement on other similar wind-diesel energy systems. This paper provides and overview of the feasibility study focusing on the environmental and some economic issues of the proposed wind farm. (author). 1 tab., 5 figs., 3 refs