ECO-SYSTEM IN AUSTRALIA

The average capacity factor for wind farms in Australia is around 35% compared to 85% for coal and gas fired power stations. This means that they cannot operate as a stand alone power source and therefore, require back up from either fossil fuel and/or renewable energy with storage.

During non production events such as low wind, due to the sheer size of the blades, many turbines still require third party power to rotate blades to prevent damage from standing in the same position to long.

The development of some wind farms has led to the division of rural communities. In most cases there is no compensation/benefit to neighbouring landholders that do not lease land for the turbines. In particular, absentee landholders, or those with large properties, are selling permission for turbines that are lucrative and out of their sight but clearly visible from neighbouring properties.