New power source blows in at boat ramp

The future of Geelong’s energy efficiency is blowing in the wind at Limeburner’s Point boat ramp.
City of Greater Geelong has installed one of Australia’s first “vertical axis” micro wind turbines at the ramp to power its lights.
Councillor John Doull, who holds an environment and sustainability portfolio, said the turbine would feed excess power back into the electricity grid to provide the City with a handy earner on the side.
The environment would also be a winner from the turbine, he said.
“The turbine is expected to save more than 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year,” he said, “and, with non-renewable energy costs set to rise, the dollar savings will continue to grow over its anticipated 30-year lifetime.”
Cr Doull said vertical axis turbines could silently generate power in “a wide variety of wind conditions”.
Installation of the turbine was part of the City’s “Greenhouse Reponse” to cut energy use and gas emissions, he said.
“One of the aims of the Green Response is to demonstrate the benefits of renewable and low-greenhouse-polluting energy sources such as wind and solar.”