SUSTAINABILITY

FEATURES
New sustainable wind power
for the Falkland Islands
New wind farm installation © Paul Wilson
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago
in the South Atlantic Ocean, around 300
miles east of South America’s southern
Patagonian coast. At a latitude of about
52°S it sits just outside the Antarctic
Circle. Up until 2007 the majority of
electricity production was through the
burning of fossil fuels, however, due to
the location and climate, the high
average wind speeds of 16 knots, which
persist over the island were ripe for the
harvesting of wind generated power.
The MOD has a range of units and
personnel on the islands, largely
centred on the Mount Pleasant
Complex (MPC) which comprises
Mount Pleasant Airfield and Mare
Harbour, about 35 miles west of Stanley.
In 2007 British Forces South Atlantic
Island (BFSAI) entered into discussions
with the Falkland Island Government
(FIG) regarding the potential
construction of a wind farm to
supplement MPC. The FIG Public Works
Department (PWD) were already
operating a successful wind farm
consisting of six turbines at Sand Bay
supplementing the Stanley Power
Station. The FIG also managed a
programme to assist homeowners
living in Camp (anywhere not within
the confines of Stanley) often in
remote and isolated areas within the
Islands to install wind turbines on
homesteads, improving electricity
supply resilience and reducing reliance
on diesel generators.
Following re-invigorated negotiations, a
Memorandum of Understanding was
signed in December 2012 by the
Commander British Forces (CBF), the
Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands
Government and Defence Infrastructure
Organisation (DIO). After agreement to
site the wind farm near the Port at East
Cove was reached, the PWD became
responsible for the provision of three
turbines and associated works up to the
MPC fence line where DIO and their
contractors became responsible for the
remaining connection to the power
station. DIO and PWD worked together
to ensure compatibility of existing and
planned future technologies and
equipment and to assure the myriad of
stakeholders within BFSAI who raised
concerns (similar to the UK) e.g.
interference with aircraf t and ships
equipment, and concerns about
environmental impacts.
In December 2014 MPC fully
commissioned the wind farm, which
is capable of providing in excess
of 3 megawatts (mW) of power to
supplement the MPC Power Station,
and is the successful culmination of a
localisation project that has achieved
mutual benefits including:
• Demonstration of MOD’s
commitment to the Falklands and
their determination for self
suffciency
• Reduced reliance on imported fossil
fuels to the islands
• Reduced carbon footprint
• Promotion of renewable energies
• Supporting the local economy
• Improved environmental
performance
• Creation of an income stream to the
Falkland Island Government
• Reduced utilities costs for the MOD
Discussions are underway regarding the
opportunity for extending the wind
farm by an additional three turbines as a
secondary phase after the performance
of this supplementary power source has
been evaluated.
Sarah Woffnden
Manager
Area Overseas (AUM)
DIO Energy, Utilities and Sustainability
Sanctuary 44 • 2015
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