The Atmospheric Environment

The Atmospheric Environment (2020)
ENVS2116/6116
Weather Systems Analysis

Abstract:-
Advancement in the technology of solar energy and Wind energy increases the demand for
electricity generation. Both powers contribute equally to reach the target. High levels of wind
farms and solar plants need to combine with the new regulatory policies to increase the
performance. This study related to how wind and solar plant affected by the natural disaster such
as Tropical Cyclones which includes El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Primary data are
collected by the Bureau of Metrology Australia and identify the influence of weather on the
location, how raining and flooding affects the solar and wind farm of Australia.
Introduction:-
Australia invested more than $20 billion on the project of storage pipeline used for the solar and
wind farms in 2018. According to the data of CERA (Clean Energy Regulator Australia),
Australia installed a new renewable energy plant that provides around 10,400MW energy in the
year of 2018 and 2019. Large scale renewable plants provide power up to 7,200MW, and small
scale plants provide power up to 3,200MW (Anon, 2020). Installation of these plants goes on
increases in Australia because demand is increasing, and the target is to achieve at least 25%
installation up to 2050 (Hendricks, Braun, Vigh and Courtney, 2019).
1. Most significant Renewable projects of solar and wind in Australia:-
Australia's generated 20% of electricity from the renewable energy sources.There are various
projects of Wind and Solar energy at Different locations. I am a part of these following projects,
which are developed by the company 'Mirus Wind and Energy Estate.' The main aim is to
analyze the impact of Atmospheric environments such as El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
on these power plants.
1.1 Project of ‘Walcha Energy’:- The cost of this project is approximately $5bn and located in
New South Wales. It is a combination of solar energy and onshore wind energy with hydro
storage. Walcha Energy is an all-in-one project. It is situated in the South of Armidale (New
England), and its length is 55 km. This plant can fulfill the demand of electricity up to
4,000MW, which is equivalent to 15 % of the total energy generated by renewable resources

(Fircroft, 2020). The "MirusWind and Energy Estate develop Walcha Energy plant." The main
target of this project to reduce the dependency on fossil fuels for the generation of electricity.
Figure1. Walcha Energy power plant in the of New South Wales (Australia)(Fircroft, 2020)
1.2. SEA (Sunshine Energy Australia):- SEA is a solar plant, located in Queensland. It
generates electricity from solar energy and supplies approximately 300,000 households of the
Queensland every year.
Figure:2 Solar Energy plant located in Queensland (Australia) (Fircroft, 2020)
1.3. Onshore Ceres Windfarm:- Ceres wind farm is located on South Australia with a cost of
£1.1bn.

This project claimed that it is a first project which supplies the wind power to the capital
city with the help of undersea cables. It is located on the Yorke Peninsula (South Australia).
This plant can generate electricity up to 600MW.
Figure 3:- Onshore Ceres Windfarm located at Yorke Peninsula (South Australia)
(Fircroft, 2020)
1.4. Port Augusta Energy Park:-Port Augusta Energy Park is located in South Australia. This
renewable energy park is situated in the center point, where the wind and solar power availability
is high. The cost of this project is $1bn. Port Augusta Energy Park has both features- solar
photovoltaic and wind turbine. It spreads across the 5400 hectares of the land. It is located from
the Port Paterson to Winninowie and covers one complete high way coming on the way. The
total generating capacity of this plant is approximately 375MW and provides the service to
154,000 households of South Australia.