Up close and personal
Located just five kilometres southwest of Edithburgh is a viewing area where you can get up close and personal to see large wind turbines in action. Opened in 2005,
Wattle Point Wind Farm supplies about 2% of South Australia's electricity. This equates to enough electricity for approximately 52,000 households.
Some of the 55 wind turbines
The wind farm is made up of 55 turbines. Each turbine has a 67-metre tubular steel tower, a nacelle with its generator, gearbox and yaw, and a three-blade propeller rotor. All three parts weigh over 160 tonnes in total. If we were to use the largest land animal on earth as a scale, how heavy do you think each turbine would be? I reckon it'd be more than 25 African elephants!
Viewing area
The turbines generate electricity at wind speeds of between 9 and 47 kilometres per hour. A network of underground cabling connects them to a sub-station where the electricity is subsequently fed into the national grid. On extremely windy days, they shut down to avoid any damage.
Interpretive displays
Besides having minimal impact on land use, the wind farm emits no greenhouse gases. Generating electricity from wind reduces the production by fossil fuels and Wattle Point has one of the highest wind speeds in the country to do so. Its turbines may not be as famous as the windmills of Holland, but for me, they're pretty fascinating too.
Look for this sign
The viewing area can be found at 389 Sheoak Beach Road. From Edithburgh, follow the unsealed Old Honiton Road out of town and turn left at the first intersection. You'll see a relatively good-sized carpark on your left after about two minutes' drive. There are some interpretive displays onsite, and of course, the large wind turbines nearby.
Water tower artwork
Edithburgh is approximately 230 kilometres from Adelaide. While you're there, why not check out its stunning
water tower artwork and rather impressive
mosaic trail as well. The town also has a range of accommodation options if you'd like to stay the night. Its caravan park met all our needs and expectations when we visited a few weeks ago.
Mosaic trail
