Easyswitch

Good for our communities and economy

This is the future of the Australian economy, electricity market, job market, competitiveness and environmental solutions. By switching to renewable electricity you are supporting the future development and current viability of these renewable projects. Renewable electricity prices will become cheaper than traditional when the environment costs of traditional electricity are taken into account.

Wattle Point Wind Farm

  • Location: near Edithburgh on the coast of SA
  • Annual Output: 312,000 MWh (enough for 48,000 homes)
  • CO2e Prevented: 345,000 tonnes (removing 90,000)
  • Size: 55 turbines totalling 91MW, covering 17.5km2
  • Commissioned: April 2005
  • Owner: Built by Southern Hydro Pty Limited and bought by AGL

Facts: When it was officially opened it was Australia's largest wind farm and cost $180m. The location was chosen as having one of Australia's highest average wind speeds. During construction 162 people were employed. In operation, there are 5 full-time service technicians over the next 25 years. The towers stand 67 meters high with each blade at 40 metres, and attract many tourists.

Koombooloomba Hydro

  • Location: Koombooloomba Dam, near Tully in far north QLD
  • Annual Output: 22,500 MWh (enough for 3,500 homes)
  • CO2e Prevented: 25,000 tonnes (removing 6,300 cars)
  • Size: 1 generator totalling 7MW
  • Commissioned: Dam in 1960, Powerplant in 1999
  • Owner: Stanwell Corporation

Facts: The electricity is generated from a flow of 364 billion litres of water per year (equivalent to 250,000 Olympic swimming pools) from Koombooloomba Dam, and has an operational life of 40 years. The project cost $10.6m

Condong Sugar Mills

  • Location: near Tweed Valley, QLD
  • Annual Output: 103,000MWh (enough for 16,000 homes)
  • CO2e Prevented: 115,000 tonnes (removing 29,000)
  • Size: 1 generator totalling 30 MW
  • Commissioned: 2007
  • Owner: Delta Electricity

Facts: Condong Cogeneration Project cost $210m to build and uses biomass fuel, (bagasse and woodwaste) resulting from cane sugar processing. These are normally burnt in the fields, so the powerplant not only provides clean renewable energy, but prevents pre-harvest and post-harvest burning of cane in the Tweed Valley.

Walkaway Wind Farm

  • Location: Walkaway, 25km south east of Geraldton, Western Australia
  • Annual Output: 310,000 MWh (enough for 48,000 homes)
  • CO2e Prevented: 300,000 tonnes (removing 75,000 cars off the roads)
  • Size: 54 turbines totalling 90MW
  • Commissioned: August 2005
  • Owner: Alinta

Facts: At the date of commissioning, this farm the largest in WA and the second largest in Australia. The project cost $210m which injected $30m into the local economy and employed 200 people during construction. The turbines have 78m towers and 41m long blades and at almost 120m high (and weighing 130 tonnes) are some of the tallest in the world.

Cathedral Rocks Wind Farm

  • Location: Port Lincoln, 240 km west of Adelaide, SA
  • Annual Output: 225,000 MWh (enough for 35,000 homes)
  • CO2e Prevented: 250,000 (63,000 cars)
  • Size: 33 Turbines totalling 66MW
  • Commissioned: Opened June 2005 and fully commissioned Jan 2007
  • Owner: Acciona Energy and Roaring 40s

Facts: Located on private farming land near the southern tip of SA and cost $100m. The generating units on the wind turbines were assembled in Vestas’ Tasmanian factory. Construction materials and subcontractors were locally sourced and within South Australia where possible. Total workforce of up to 200 employees, including 70 full-time. There are currently 9 full time employees ongoing. A social survey taken at public information sessions indicated 92 per cent were “very much” in favour and 8 per cent were “somewhat in favour” of the wind farm. The wind farm spans a 29 square km area