Small turbines, but the thinking is big

Earthmover and Civil Contractor
March, 2008 Page: 50

In the first installation of its kind outside Britain, five Swift mini wind turbines, are operating around Adelaide. They're on top of the State Administration Centre, Wakefield House, the Central Market and the Roma Mitchell Arts Centre in the CBD; the other is further north atop a resources centre at Salisbury.

Renewable Devices Swift Turbines Ltd (RDST), a small company based in Edinburgh (UK), has designed and brought to market the Swift roof-mounted wind turbine, which has a rated power output of I.5kW - between a third and a half of a household's electricity requirements. Installations started in August 2004, and more than 200 Swifts have now been supplied.

In 2006, when Adelaide's five were installed, Premier Mike Rann said they would be given a year-long trial to determine the power output in local weather conditions and in different built environments. If successful, a further 20 mini-turbines would be approved for installation on government buildings.

That OK has happened and the 2007 state budget included $33 1,000 to cover installation costs. Premier Mike Rann wants the state to have 20% of electricity coming from renewable energy sources by 2014. He points to the fact that SA already leads the nation in wind power and has 45% of Australia's grid-connected solar power.