Benefits of Wind
The environmental benefits of the Collgar Wind Farm to the community are outlined below. They have been calculated in accordance with the Policy and Planning Guidelines for the Development of Wind Energy Facilities1 and the relevant site data. Environmental and planning approvals have been granted on the basis of 127 wind turbines, but the figures listed below represent the current confirmed project size of 111 wind turbines.
Renewable Electricity Generated Per Year
The Collgar Wind Farm will generate approximately 792,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of renewable electricity per year.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Displaced
The Collgar Wind Farm will displace approximately 700,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gas emissions per year.
Average Number of Households
The Collgar Wind Farm will supply enough power each year to power approximately 125,000 average Western Australian households per year 2.
Number of Cars Taken off the Road
A wind energy facility that displaces approximately 700,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum is the equivalent of taking approximately 160,000 cars off the road each year.
Equivalent Number of Trees that would need to be Planted
The 700,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions displaced by Collgar Wind Farm each year would be equivalent to the amount of carbon that would be locked up by planting approximately 1,000,000 trees.
1http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/resources/documents/WindEnergyGuidelines.pdf
2http://www.soe.wa.gov.au/report/human-settlements/energy-use-in-settlements.html