How it works

Bega District News
Tuesday 23/1/2007 Page: 7

THE Tathra Surf Club has been fitted with a twin blade wind turbine about two metres in diameter. The turbine nose icon and tail are painted in surf club colours - red and white. The club's roof has also been fitted with one-kilowatt (kW) solar modules. The system is connected to the electricity grid.

Whenever the cells and turbine generate electricity it is put into the grid, effectively winding back the club's electricity meter. If there are times when the club is not generating power it draws power from grid, winding the meter forward.

"It is hoped we will be energy neutral - saving over 2.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually," Dr Nott said. "Obviously in summer we will be using a lot of the energy we produce but in winter we will be clocking up plenty of credits." It is estimated the solar modules will generate an average daily clean: energy output of four to five kWh and the wind turbine two to 2.5 kWh.

Full sun days could create a maximum of 7.5 kWh a day and full wind days could contribute a maximum of 6kWh per day. Over 12 months it is expected that collectively the turbine and solar modules will generate 2,500 kWh of power for club.

It is estimated this will save the surf club $1,000 each year, with the possibility of expanding the number of solar modules and eventually selling green power back to the grid.