Energy answers are blowin' in the wind

Adelaide Advertiser
Tuesday 8/12/2009 Page: 31

FOR South Australian engineering consultancy company Cyclopic Energy, the answers are blowin' in the wind. A finalist in the inaugural CleverGreen Innovators to Watch service awards, Cyclopic Energy helps developers, architects, consultants and governments make informed investments in small-scale (less than 100 kW) wind energy installations. Cyclopic's "micro siting" service uses computer-based, advanced flow simulation software, to monitor and measure wind flows, identify optimum-use turbines and then help integrate the installations within the environment.

Because of their small size, the wind turbines are extremely sensitive to their environment, with trees and buildings dramatically reducing the available wind resource. Turbine placement is critical in such installations, which are found in large numbers in the US, Cyclopic Energy managing director Dr Damien Leclercq said. "Our service is unique in our ability to deliver it at a price that fits in with the cost of the project.

"In the US, you can find such installations in car parks, hospitals and even schools. In Australia, it's still a new concept," he said. While initial terrain data helps assess the potential of a site, it takes three to six months to obtain reliable wind measurements, technical director Dr Rick Morgans said. "We are already commercialising our services through jobs in the US," Dr Morgans said.