Winds also blowing for Petratherm

Adelaide-based geothermal developer Petratherm says preliminary assessments are looking positive for its Clean Energy Precinct project in South Australia.
Estimates for wind energy development in the area show a potential of up to 300MW.  Assessments carried out by wind consultancy GL Garrad Hassan Pty Ltd are showing wind capacity factors of between 33.2 per cent and 42.8 per cent, a figure higher than the world’s average of about 30 per cent.
The Clean Energy Precinct project is being developed to supply geothermal energy from the Paralana geothermal project to South Australia’s grid and aims to meet the growing energy needs resulting from mining developments in the north-western area of South Australia. The development will be in two stages. The first 300MW stage will consist of gas and possibly wind. The second 300MW stage will introduce large-scale geothermal energy through gas, wind and solar sources.
Petratherm said 3.2MW wind turbines are being used to measure preliminary wind estimates and will be confirmed by two meteorological masts and anemometry at the site. Wind speeds will be monitored for at least 12 months to provide data for the feasibility study.
The feasibility study is scheduled for completion in 2014.