All about Wind Energy

Why we need clean energy

Australia’s stationary energy sector, which includes electricity derived from coal-fired power, is responsible
for around 50 percent of our greenhouse gas emissions. Australia’s environmental, economic and energy
security is at risk from climate change unless we can compete in a low carbon world. Any successful
climate change solution must first target the energy sector specifically.

Australia has some of the world’s best clean energy sources, many of which are already powering
Australian homes and businesses. Our superior clean energy resources, like wind power, have the capacity
to meet Australia’s growing energy needs while providing a clean powered, sustainable economy.

Wind Energy – how it works

Wind energy, currently the cheapest renewable energy source, involves the generation of electricity from
the naturally occurring power of the wind.

Wind turbines capture wind energy within the area swept by their blades. The blades in turn drive an
electrical generator to produce power for export to the grid.

Sites where there is strong, consistent wind such as South Australia are the most appropriate locations for
wind farms. An excellent wind site would provide average wind speeds greater than 8 metres per second at
ground level.

Greenhouse gas savings

In 2009 estimated wind energy generation saved Australia 4,284,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. That is
equivalent to the removal of 952,000 cars from our roads.

As an additional environmental benefit, no water is needed for wind farm operation.

In Australia

Australia has some of the world’s best wind resources. The total operating wind capacity at the end of 2009
was 1712 megawatts (MW) – a 31 percent rise on 2008. This equated to a generation of approximately
4,284 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity annually. So far in 2010 one new wind farm has been
commissioned and the total operating capacity now stands at 1769 MW – approximately generating around
5,000 GWh of electricity annually.

Did you know? About 740,000 households in Australia are currently powered by wind energy.
Currently there are 52 operating wind farms in Australia, with a total of 1,011 operating turbines. South
Australia has the largest installed capacity with around 45 per cent of the nation’s total capacity.

Potential

There are presently over 7,000 MW of large-scale wind farm energy projects proposed around the country,
many of them having already received planning permission.

Global View

The use of wind power continues to grow around the world. Global installed capacity at the end of 2009 was
almost 158 gigawatts producing approximately 340 terrawatt hours of electricity annually.

In 2009, more than 37 gigawatts of new wind capacity was installed around the world – a 31 percent
increase on 2008 - with a value of around $US63 billion.

The top four wind energy nations are:

 United States – 35,159 MW
 Germany - 25,777 MW
 China – 25,104 MW and
 Spain – 19,149 MW

Current Issues

In 2007 the Government committed to ensuring that 20 percent of Australia's electricity supply would come
from renewable energy sources by 2020 by establishing the expanded national Renewable Energy Target
(RET) scheme. Draft legislation on the design of the expanded RET was released in December 2008 and
the final legislation was passed in August 2009.

About the Clean Energy Council

The Clean Energy Council is the peak industry body in Australia, creating a united strategy built on strong
policy and direction in the clean energy sector.

We aim to find solutions that deliver abundant and affordable clean energy and efficiency solutions to
Australia, as quickly as possible. For more information please visit www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au

Last updated March 2010