MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Renewables the focus of EU Energy Week in the Falklands

MLA Michael Poole visited the Sand Bay Wind Farm last week to discuss the benefits of renewable energy.

The Power & Electrical Department hosted an open day last week at their Sand Bay Wind Farm to showcase the work being undertaken by the Falkland Island’s Government (FIG) to utilise and promote renewable energy sources. The open day, which included guided tours and demonstrations, formed part of wider initiatives recently undertaken by FIG to address issues surrounding climate change.

 A public open day was held at the Sand Bay Wind Farm in the Falkland Islands last week as part of the European Union (EU) Energy Week and as part of the Falkland Island Government’s (FIG) Climate Change Quarter. The open day was one of the final events to be held for the Climate Change Quarter, which began in April and finishes at the end of the month and has been led by Chair of the Falkland Island’s Legislative Assembly Michael Poole.

Speaking to MercoPress, MLA Poole stated that the wind farm is “just one example of the Government’s commitment to growing a green economy”. He added that “renewable energy is one area where small countries, such as the Falklands, can show global leadership and where we can play our small part in helping to mitigate climate change”.

The Sand Bay Wind Farm was a project that initially began in August 2007 when three 44-metre high wind turbines were built at an estimated cost of £2.3 million. A further three turbines were added in February 2010 at the same cost, but speaking at the open day, Power Station Manager Glenn Ross stated the six turbines had already paid for themselves twice over through the amount of energy generated.

While over 50% of the Power Station’s energy is still generated through diesel generators, the wind turbines have helped to displace diesel costs by approximately 30%, with the highest diesel displacement rate per hour reaching 448 litres. The highest weekly percentage of units being generated from the wind farm to power the Falkland’s capital is just over 45%, with the highest weekly production equalling 163,188 units in July 2015.The highest wind penetration to date was 73%, when the wind farm produced 950 kilowatts when there was a total demand of 1300 kilowatts.

The six wind turbines at Sand Bay are all manufactured by German company Enercon, which is the fourth largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world, and many of the staff working on the Falkland’s turbines have benefitted from travelling to Germany to receive training. However, the upcoming British EU referendum, to be held tomorrow, casts some doubts on future relationships like this between the Falklands and the EU, particularly if the ‘vote leave’ campaign triumphs. Many companies in the Falklands trade with the EU, especially those involved with the exporting of fish and meat products, and tomorrow’s vote could have significant impacts on trade going forward.