Wind News

Friday 19 February 2010

Three turbines were installed at the Sand Bay Wind Farm, near the capital Stanley, in 2007

Three new wind turbines installed on the Falklands which are set to mean that wind power accounts for 40% of all power generated on the islands have begun operating this week.

The 330kW Enercon turbines have been added to three turbines which were installed at the Sand Bay Wind Farm, six miles from Stanley, in 2007 as the remote UK overseas territory looked to reduce its reliance on expensive fossil fuel imports.

The next phase in the development of the wind farm is set to be energy storage. By charging a 2MWh battery during optimal wind times and discharging the battery when wind is not available, the Islands' Government hopes to ensure that energy production is kept more constant.

Glenn Ross, power station manager and a member of the Government's Legislative Assembly, said: "We are excited about the installation of the three new turbines as Phase One of the wind farm project has been very successful and a further significant step in wind power contribution is certain."

Islands

The Islands have been in the news of late after Argentina responded to UK plans to drill for oil by bringing in controls on ships passing through its waters to the Falklands. It is rumoured that the UK is increasing its naval presence in the area.

But despite the prospects for oil under the seas, the Islands' location adrift in the South Atlantic means that imported fossil fuels are very expensive for the 2,500 inhabitants.

The Islands have therefore experimented with renewable energy including wind, heat pumps, hydro-electric and solar power. At a recent European Union seminar, the Falklands were named in the leading group of Overseas Territories in terms of the percentage of electricity produced from renewable resources.

The most significant impact of the three additional turbines is likely to be a reduction in the amount of diesel used on the Islands, thereby reducing costs and minimising the environmental impact.

The installation of the first three wind turbines at the site in 2007 resulted in the displacement of 26% of the Stanley Power Station's annual fuel consumption and reduced the cost of electricity by six pence per unit.

This figure compares favourably to the UK Government's goal for 20% of electricity produced in the UK to be renewable by 2020.

The Falklands now aims to reach 40% fuel displacement with the three new turbines and part of this target involves increasing take up in the agricultural sector.

Farms in the Islands used to rely solely on diesel generators for their power, but this proved expensive and only provided electricity for a few hours a day.

But, after funding assistance through the Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC), 85% of farms now have 24-hour power from renewable sources.