Answers blowing in the wind

ONE million dollars will be spent to determine if Tasmania’s wind farms can play a role in stabilising the electricity grid.

A trial, expected to start in the next fortnight, will be conducted at Musselroe Wind Farm to see if wind power can provide system support.

If it stacks up wind farms across the nation could adopt the technology.

The Federal Government will provide $500,000 towards the trial with Woolnorth Wind Farm Holdings chipping in the rest.

The trial will see if a fast injection or reduction of energy can stabilise the system.

“Unlike coal and gas power stations, wind farms do not currently provide frequency control ancillary services,” the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Josh Frydenberg, said.

“If both technically and commercially feasible, wind farms across Australia will have the opportunity to contribute to the stability of the grid and develop a new revenue stream that helps lower electricity prices.”

The company will also examine the potential of adding storage for surplus energy to the wind farm.

The general manager of Woolnorth Wind Farm Holding, Stephen Ross, said if it proved to be a viable addition for Musselroe, frequency control ancillary services will im- prove the efficiency, commerciality and market importance of the wind farm and pave the way for others to use the technology.

The second aspect of the study is examining options to store wind energy when constraints on the system mean that energy can’t be used.

“We’ll consider a range of options to consider the best fit for wind — that could include chemical batteries or pumped hydro energy storage,” Mr Ross said.