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Wind energy assessment comes up trumps

An expert wind energy assessment has proven what the proponents and supporters of the Hepburn Community Wind Park have long believed – that the Leonards Hill site is an ideal location for a wind farm. The energy analysis was conducted by one of the world’s most reputable industry leaders, Garrad Hassan Pacific Pty Ltd, and the data came from a wind monitoring tower that was erected on Leonards Hill in August 2006.

The energy analysis involved in-depth computer modelling that took into account the exact turbine positions, the local wind resource, any effects from the local topographical conditions and vegetation, and long-term weather patterns. Board member and local architect Per Bernard described the energy analysis as “a very thorough scientific process which gives us good certainty about what the Wind Park is actually going to produce.”

The energy analysis predicts that the two turbines of the Hepburn Community Wind Park will produce enough energy per annum for just under 2,300 houses, almost the total number of houses in Hepburn and Daylesford. The 12,200 megawatt hours per annum that the Wind Park will produce will cut over 12,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the Shire’s greenhouse emissions. Such an achievement will clearly put the towns of Daylesford and Hepburn among the high achievers when it comes to sustainable living.