153º 154º 141º 142º 143º 144º 145º 146º 147º 148º 149º 150º 151º 152º How does landscape affect the wind?

High In NSW, landscape strongly infl uences the viability of a . In Figure 1, the red line represents the energy potential for wind blowing off the sea on to the land. Byron Bay While the rough land surface and vegetation will slow the

The New South Wales Wind Atlas Wind Speed wind down, hills and ridges can serve to concentrate and 1 Closer contours indicate speed the wind up. There are also “no-go” zones near higher wind speeds Low cliffs and behind steep hills where turbulence prevents -29º -29º wind energy development.

Tibooburra

Landscape roughness slows the wind Inverell Grafton 2 Figure 1 3km resolution

8km resolution 3km resolution -30º -30º 300x700km 200x400km Bourke Walgett 26 Coffs Harbour Narrabri 3 Armidale Figure 2 shows a series of wind maps covering the same area, but at different scales. At 8km and even 3km resolution we can only see the effect of larger landscape features. A dramatic 4 change is seen when the wind is displayed 50x45km at a resolution of 100m (computed with the -31º Tamworth -31º WindScapeTM system). The warmest colours 5 indicate the best wind speeds. The right hand panels show that good wind sites exist in areas that appear to have only modest resources Port Macquarie when modelled at 3km or 8km resolution. Cobar Nyngan Some inland sites in NSW have wind speeds comparable to coastal sites of southern 8 Australia. More information on higher resolution Broken Hill 7 data such as shown in this fi gure is available through SEDA WindBusiness. 100m resolution -32º 25 6 -32º Scone Figure 2 Dubbo Forster

Menindee The user of this Atlas acknowledges that the information contained herein is provided by SEDA for the 9 Mudgee Singleton purpose of raising awareness of the potential wind resource in NSW. The information should be used as a guide only and independent advice should be obtained before A making any decisions on the siting of a wind farm. Newcastle Whilst SEDA has made the information available in good faith, SEDA, its offi cers, employees, agents and advisors: • are not responsible for and make no express or implied representation or warranty regarding the -33º 10 Wind speed - metres per second -33º correctness, accuracy, currency or reliability of any information provided; Parkes • make no express or implied representation or warranty that any estimate or forecast will be 11 achieved or that any statement as to future matters contained in this Atlas will prove correct; Orange • expressly disclaim any and all liability from the information contained in this Atlas, including 9.5 without limitation, errors in or omissions contained in that information; • except so far as liability under any statute cannot be excluded, accept no responsibility arising in Lithgow Richmond 9.0 any way from errors in, or omissions from this Atlas, or in negligence; C • do not represent that they apply any expertise on behalf of the user of this Atlas or any other D 8.5 interested party; • accept no liability for any loss or damage whatsoever suffered by any person as a result of that Cowra 8.0 person, or any other person, placing any reliance on the contents of this Atlas; and Sydney • assume no duty of disclosure or fi duciary duty to any interested party. -34º Wentworth 12 7.5 -34º Location of New South Wales, Australia Users of this Atlas are deemed to have read and accepted the conditions contained in this Disclaimer. 7.0 Monitoring towers Griffi th 6.5 Young Location B Wollongong Hay 22 1 Ballina 6.0 2 Glen Innes 24 13 14 Balranald 3 Armidale 5.5 Goulburn Kiama 4 Mount Borah 5 Walcha 5.0 Junee 6 Scone 15 4.5 -35º 7 Coolah -35º Yass 16 8 Warren 4.0 Wagga Wagga 17 9 Wellington 10 Cherry Tree Hill 3.5 23 Tumut 11 Orange Jerilderie 21 Canberra Ulladulla 20 12 Crowther 3.0 The NSW Wind Atlas was generated using WindScapeTM, a software tool Deniliquin 13 Galong developed by the Wind Energy Research Unit of Australia’s Commonwealth 18 14 Marulan Scientifi c and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). SEDA acknowledges 15 Yass Batemans Bay -29º the assistance of Land and Property Information NSW and the NSW Ministry of 16 Lake Bathurst N Energy and Utilities in the preparation of transmission line information. 17 Lake George -36º Albury 18 Braidwood -36º Cover photo: Wind Monitoring Tower, courtesy of Pacifi c Power International 19 Ando 20 Tumut Cooma 21 The Rock -30º Narooma 22 Griffi th 23 Jerilderie 24 Balranald Existing wind farms 25 Broken Hill Transmission lines Bega Location Capacity Year Ando 26 Bourke 132 kV 19 -31º 220 kV A Kooragang Island 0.6 MW 1997 330 kV B Crookwell 4.8 MW 1998 -37º 0 75 150 -37º 500 kV C Blayney 9.9 MW 2000 500 kV used as 330 kV Eden D Hampton 1.3 MW 2001 kilometres -32º The NSW -33º 141º 142º 143º 144º 145º 146º 147º 148º 149º 150º 151º 152º 153º 154º Wind Atlas

Selecting a wind farm site Relative sound levels How big is a ? -34º How was this Atlas created? A windy area is not the only element of a successful wind farm. Any wind developer must consider a range of issues, dB(A) 300 The NSW Wind Atlas was created with WindScapeTM, a regional wind resource mapping tool produced by the CSIRO including: 140 TM Wind Energy Research Unit. WindScape uses data and modelling from global – and continental – scale climate • results of around 12 months of wind monitoring in the exact area Centrepoint models, as well as fi ne-scale calculations for wind speed near large individual landscape features such as ranges Jet Aircraft 120 Threshold of Pain • requirements for development approval 260m Overhead -35º and large plains. More information on the Wind Energy Research Unit and their wind resource assessment tools is available online at http://www.clw.csiro.au/products/windenergy/ • nearby natural habitats, important plant or animal species, environmental impact assessment 100 Heavy Truck at MLC Centre 200 • the cost of connecting to the electricity transmission network near the site (poles and wires) Hazard to Hearing from 40km/h 7m distance Continuous Exposure 80 How to use this Atlas • compatibility with the existing land use Passenger Car at 60km/h Communication starts 7m distance The NSW Wind Atlas models average annual wind speed across the State. The wind speeds shown are modelled at a • the preferences of the nearby community becomming difficult metres 60 Cooling Tower Sydney height of 65m above the ground, which is close to the height of modern wind turbines. Harbour Bridge • how very large wind farm components would be transported to the site Busy General 100 The wind speed colours shown on the Atlas are accurate to a resolution of 8km. While the Atlas gives a general Office The NSW Wind Energy Handbook covers all the issues relevant to wind farming in this State. It is produced by SEDA 40 SCG Lights The Atlas is a snapshot of wind speed around the State of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Transmission impression of the NSW wind resource, it does not incorporate the effects of local landscape features smaller than 8km Quiet Bedroom and may be ordered by calling the Energy Smart Information Centre on 1300 138 638, at a cost of $33. Tower It was produced for all with a local interest in , including developers, government, the electricity industry, landowners and the broader community. in size, like small hills and ridges. Consequently, the Atlas cannot be used as the sole means for siting a wind farm. 20 Typical Typical Wind Turbine Tree 660 KW The legend shows a series of colour bars to represent different levels of wind speed. The centre of each bar indicates at 350m 0 wind turbine the modelled average annual wind speed, while the ends of each bar show possible wind speeds within that colour Threshold of Hearing 0 area due to the effects of local landscape on wind speed. Source: New Zealand Energy Effi ciency and Conservation Authority Source: NSW Wind Energy Handbook 2002 SEDA’s WindBusiness unit offers a range of information and services to assist in the development of Wind Energy Guidelines www.energywise.co.nz Hampton Wind Park (right) is a two-hour drive from Sydney, past the Blue Mountains. Power from two 660kW wind wind power in NSW. These include: turbines enhances the quality of supply in the surrounding electricity grid. • NSW Wind Synopsis: a guide to wind resources in NSW, incorporating detailed info on wind regimes, transmission networks and environmental considerations. Who is SEDA? The Sustainable Energy Development Authority is a New South Wales Government agency set up to reduce the level of greenhouse gas • Regional Wind Reports: Very high (100m) resolution wind maps and map information overlays, each covering emissions in this state. All of SEDA’s programs are designed to transform the marketplace for sustainable energy technologies and services. an area of 50km by 50km. Printed on 100% recycled paper Hampton Wind Park We invest our resources in the development and use of energy effi ciency, and low emission technologies. • Wind Data Licences: Wind data from SEDA’s network of monitoring sites is available for use in site SEDA has been actively involved in progressing wind power development in NSW since 1996. SEDA contributed to the development of the prospecting and project design. existing wind farms in NSW and works closely with the wind industry, local councils, and other stakeholders to remove barriers to the To contact WindBusiness: Tel: +61 2 9249 6100, Email: [email protected] development of wind power in the State. Phone: +61 2 9249 6100 Facsimile: +61 2 9299 1519 Web: www.seda.nsw.gov.au Email: [email protected]