Small start to rooftop wind power

Adelaide Advertiser
Tuesday 19/9/2006, Page: 4

WIND turbines are being installed on prominent city buildings to help meet renewable energy targets.

One has been installed on the Victoria Square State Administration Centre and another is planned for nearby Wakefield House. Others will be installed at the Adelaide TAFE in Light Square and on the Central Market in Grote St.

Premier Mike Rann said the turbines were part of a year-long trial and, if successful, another 20 would be approved for Government buildings. The turbines cost $13,000, each and produce 1.5kW of power about 3350 per cent of a household's electricity needs.

Mr Rann will unveil the turbine plan today at the 2006 Global wind power conference in Adelaide. "This is the first installation outside of the United Kingdom of the twometre rooftop wind turbines," he said.

Mr Rann said the turbines would be monitored over the next 12 months to determine power output in local weather conditions and on different buildings. "Our target is to have 20 per cent of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2014," he said.

Renewable Energy Generators of Australia chief executive Susan Jeanes said the Government should be developing policies to match its rhetoric. "They have to come up with economic incentives to get to that target," she said.