Tassie embracing turbine revolution

Sunday Tasmanian
Sunday 8/8/2010 Page: 12

WIND turbines like those that newly grace Hobart's Marine Board building are set to become the latest backyard status symbol as more and more Tasmanians seek to generate their own power.

Rising electricity costs, the chance of more price rises with a carbon reduction scheme and talk of more generous rebates for producing power mean the turbines are becoming a common sight in suburban yards and on rural lots. And they're likely to become a more common sight in the city too, after a surge of inquiries from building owners. Rob Manson, a director of I Want Energy, which installed the turbines on the Hobart building, said already about 100 homes in Tasmania were using smaller versions of the vertical-axis turbines to meet their power needs.

Ranging from a discreet 1.2kW system that looks like a series of heat-extractor vents to a 12kW system that could power several homes. Mr Manson said interest had been high. "If you want to power the average-sized house, a 5kW horizontal-axis or a 3.2kW vertical-axis turbine will replace 100% of your energy needs", he said. "People are really greening up, particularly people in retirement or who are heading towards retirement because they can see they're facing rising energy costs. "The benefits are that there's less strain on the grid, we import less coal-fired power from Victoria and we export more green power over Basslink".

The units are almost silent, unlike their horizontal-axis counterparts, so can be mounted closer to homes. Mr Manson said his generally well-heeled customers supplemented their wind turbines with solar panels to ensure a steady supply of power, whether the wind blew or the sun shone. Talk that the Government could soon increase the price paid to home-owners for electricity they generate was also fanning demand, he said.

Mr Manson said his next goal was to make the turbines in Tasmania. "I'm not here looking to line my own pockets. We're looking to start an industry", he said. "We believe we can make these turbines in Tasmania. We have all the fabrication skills here, being an island of renowned ship builders. "Every school in Australia has $50,000 available as a Federal Government grant. If we signed up 100 schools, we would kick-start the industry right here in Hobart. "It's a huge opportunity".