Answers are in the virtual wind
A VIRTUAL reality tool developed in Geelong will allow people to visualise wind farms before they are built.
Deakin University has partnered with renewable energy developer ACCIONA, which is behind the Mt Gellibrand and Mortlake wind farms, to develop the tool.
Using a virtual reality headset, people will be able to visualise how wind farms interact with the landscape, understand a turbine’s energy output, interact with different wind turbine configurations and listen to any sounds they make.
The tool was developed by researchers in the CADET Virtual Reality Lab at Deakin’s School of Engineering
The 35 turbine Mortlake South Wind Farm was one of six successful projects announced a year ago as part of the State Government’s Renewable Energy Target reverse auction.
ACCIONA managing director Brett Wickham said most of the work at Mortlake was still happening underground and many people were unsure what the wind farm would eventually look like.
“The VR solution provides us with a tool to take to schools, community meetings and events and show people first-hand how the project will look and feel,” Mr Wickham said.
Director of the CADET VR Lab Associate Professor Ben Horan said that people could immerse themselves in the virtual environment and access relevant information at the same time.
He said people will be able to see the technology within the wind turbines.
ACCIONA and Deakin are also working together on several other initiatives, including the construction of a vehicle designed to compete in the World Solar Challenge in 2021 and a second VRET project to develop drone technology suitable to undertake wind turbine inspections.