Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) recently celebrated Global Wind Day with the Clean Energy Council (CEC) in Sydney. Global Wind Day is an event to promote awareness of wind energy across the world, coordinated by the Global Wind Energy Council and the European Wind Energy Association.
An SKM study, commissioned by the Clean Energy Council was launched on the day. It highlights the investment, employment and carbon abatement figures generated from wind energy in Australia. The report found that for every 50 megawatts of capacity (enough to power nearly 21,000 homes annually), the average wind farm creates up to 48 direct jobs during construction, and then employs around five ongoing permanent staff.
A typical 50 megawatt (MW) wind farm pays host farmers some $250,000 per year, is constructed by workers who spend up to $1.2 million locally, and contributes up to $80,000 annually to community projects, according to the landmark study into the economic benefits of wind farms. Every 100 MW of wind power also reduces around 246,200 tonnes of carbon emissions every year.
The lead author of the paper, David Cotterill, is SKM’s Principal Economist, with thirty five year’s economic management consultancy experience. David specialises in sustainable regional economic development.
The report is available from the Clean Energy Council website at www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au.
