Summary
Research and data collection over several years has allowed us to determine the best alternative energy option for Australian stations. This is to install a small number of large commercially available, minimally modified wind-turbines. They would be variable-speed, 280kW machines without gearboxes, mounted on 33m or 50m steel towers. Matching an appropriate turbine design to the local climatic conditions has to be coupled with innovative solutions to the logistics and installation issues. A computerised power-house management system is vital to the efficient operation of such a windfarm This will optimise the instantaneous wind resource and diesel generator outputs to the station load. When the wind resource exceeds around 40% of the station load, short-term energy storage systems such as fly-wheels, batteries or hydrogen powered fuel cells are required to hold the station load while different combinations of wind and diesel are switched onto the grid. The planned windfarm, initially at Mawson, together with a power-house control and flywheel storage system will provide 100% of the station load for at least 75% of the time. The pay-back period in terms of fuel and infrastructure savings is expected to be between 4 and 5 years. INSTALLATION ISSUES Transport Large (up to 250kW) commercial turbines can have individual components weighing up to 13 tonnes and 15 meters in length. Special cranes and transport equipment may be required to move the components from the re-supply vessel to the site. Erection Usually, cranes of 100 tonnes or greater are required to erect large turbines. Alternative erection systems such as tilt-up or self-erecting climbing cranes will need to be considered for remote installations such as those in Antarctica. Also to be considered is the small window of opportunity over summer to undertake an installation. Foundations Special consideration should be given to foundation design due to the high winds and cold