Council looks at wind power trial

South Coast Register
Wednesday 12/9/2007 Page: 8

Shoalhaven City Council will this month consider a trial of domestic wind turbines in various locations throughout the Shoalhaven. Council has been approached by Bomaderry company Private Parts Pty Ltd to assist in a trial of wind turbines for generating sustainable energy. The approach came about as a result of council's economic development office working over the past two years with a company in Melbourne and matching its invention with the Bomaderry manufacturer.

A report to be discussed at council's policy and planning Committee last night stated that bringing the product to a commercial reality required some technical input from council's electrical engineering section, especially in the identification of suitable sites in the local area to trial the turbines. Several meetings with council's planning and development services staff have also been held to develop the regulatory framework for installing the domestic units, with a view to using the same regulations for the industrial units, currently in development.

The wind turbine will generate up to 1kW per hour or on an average day up to 7.5kW or about 50 per cent of the average daily household consumption. The actual unit has a 1.2m turbine fan and is approximately 1.5m in length including the trim tail. The unit has been under development trial, without load, in Bomaderry since mid-July.

The company's proposal is to trial up to 10 sites to be selected, some nearer the coast, some in Nowra itself and at least one in a more remote location, possibly the West Nowra Waste Depot. The company is currently finalising a financial arrangement package for council to consider as part of the trial, with details to be made available before the full meeting of council at the end of-the month. Private Parts intends to manufacture these units in the Shoalhaven.