Resultados de la encuesta

By meeting new energy demands with wind generated renewable energy, rather than thermally generated energy, the Musselroe Wind Farm Project will avoid emission of about 370,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. The total reduction in GHG emissions over the 20-year life of the Project is in the order of 7.4 million tonnes (CO2-e). Expressed another way, the annual GHG saving from the Musselroe Wind Farm is equivalent to removing 74 000 cars from the road. This demonstrates the significant local, national and global environmental benefits of the Project. These benefits are considered to outweigh the negative local environmental impacts, many of which can be managed via careful siting of the turbine towers and mitigation measures during the construction program.

One question that does arise is will the wind farm generate more energy over its life than it consumes in manufacture. Danish studies indicate that a modern wind turbine recovers all the energy that it consumed during its manufacture, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning within approximately three months of start up. Consequently the energy produced within the 20 year design life of a wind turbine will exceed by 80 times the energy spent in its manufacture, maintenance, and scrapping. Whilst similar detailed life cycle analysis has not been conducted for this project, because of the complexity in determining transport and local manufacturing content, a broadly similar outcome would be anticipated.

More information on Greenhouse gases and other air quality issues can be found in Volume 1, Chapter 9.

7.5

Hazardous Materials and Waste

7.5.1 Description

Wind farm construction activities do not involve the use of major quantities of hazardous materials, nor do they produce large quantities of hazardous or general waste compared with other forms of electricity generation.

However, hazardous materials will be used during the construction and operation of the Musselroe Wind Farm. Careful management of their handling and storage will be required to mitigate the potential effects on personnel and the environment from exposure to their potentially harmful effects. Control of hazardous materials will aim to minimise the quantities used and to use those with least potential risk.

7.5.2 Potential Impacts

Inappropriate or insufficient management of hazardous materials may result in detrimental effects to soil and water quality. Other materials, land and water may be contaminated by inadequately stored or segregated waste (particularly from controlled waste). This may compromise later use of the Site or involve costly clean up.

The main categories of hazardous materials used will be:

fuels, lubricating and hydraulic oils for construction and operating vehicles and equipment;

substation transformer insulating oil;

other chemicals used during wind farm construction, including concrete admixture chemicals such as surface active agents, plasticisers and form release oil (mineral); equipment coolants and maintenance chemicals such as solvent cleaners and paints; and herbicides for weed and vegetation control.

7.5.3 Mitigation Options

While the history of wind farms is relatively short in Australia, there is little evidence to indicate any significant risks during the construction and operational phases of such projects from wastes or hazardous materials, which cannot be reduced to an acceptably low level by the adoption of appropriate mitigation measures.

All procedures will accord with those required under Hydro Tasmania’s ISO 14001 Environmental Management System as well as environmental laws and regulations. Similar requirements will be placed on contractors.

The management strategies for the Project will be contained within the Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) and specific commitments are detailed in Chapter 10 of Volume 1.

More information on waste and hazardous materials management can be found in Chapter 14 of both Volume 2 and Volume 3.

7.6 Hazards and Risk

7.6.1 Description

Safety, occupational health and environmental hazards are issues that may arise accidentally during the course of the design, construction and operation phases of the Project. For this reason hazard analysis and risk assessment is required to be carried out under the provisions of

the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995, the Workplace Health and Safety Regulations 1998 and the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994.

The hazard analysis process involved drawing up an inventory of environmental, health and safety hazards identified from previous wind farm projects, discussions with project team members and reference to similar construction projects. On this basis high-risk locations and facilities were identified such as the access roads, turbine and substation sites.

Significant risks from natural hazards such as seismic activity, landslip, and floods are considered unlikely because of the topography and stability of the area. Extreme weather conditions are generally restricted to high (but non cyclonic) winds.

7.6.2 Potential Impacts

The risk assessment highlighted the following (see also Table 7.): Three hazards were identified as being possible:

Facilities being damaged by high winds;

A vehicle accident at or in transit to the site; and,

Incidents occurring during the construction of phases of the Project by contractors or others.

Further information about these risks are discussed in detail in Chapter 15 of both Volume 2 and Volume 3 and have led to the documentation of a risk analysis matrix. An example is given below.

Table 7.2: Qualitative risk analysis matrix – level of risk.

Severity of Consequences Likelihood of

Occurrence

Insignificant Minor Moderate Major Catastrophic Almost certain

Likely

Possible 2,12 6

Unlikely 3,9,10,11,12 2,5,7

Rare 4,11,13,16

KEY

Risk Level 1 Low Risk ~ manage by routine procedures and general training.

2 Moderate Risk ~ management responsibility must be specified, specific training given.

3 High Risk ~ senior management attention needed, formal procedures used.

4 Extreme Risk ~ immediate action required, physical controls implemented, risk must be avoided.

7.6.3 Mitigation Options

Project planning, implementation and auditing will ensure that management measures are put in place in order to reduce risks to an acceptable level.

The management strategies for the Project will be contained within the Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP). In addition, Hydro Tasmania proposes a number of commitments, which are detailed in Chapter 10 of Volume 1.

Mitigation measures for moderate and high risk levels are outlined in more detail in Chapter 15 of both Volume 2 and Volume 3.

7.7 Other Risks

7.7.1 Fire