Berowra’s windmill fans winds of change
WONDERED why a windmill was built on the hill near the F3 on-ramp at Berowra? It will make up part of the power source for the new Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Fire Control Centre.
A wind-powered turbine and a solar photovoltaic (PV) system have been installed to power the site at the old tollgate, on the Pacific Highway.
The wind turbine has been sized to produce about 30 per cent of the estimated power consumption (about 27,000 kWh a year). The PV system will supplement the power output during times of low wind.
The site is considered suitable for a wind turbine as it is open terrain, often windy and away from residential buildings.
The Proven Energy 15kW wind turbine has a three-bladed, nine-metre diameter rotor mounted upon a 25m-tall galvanised steel monopole tower connected to the national electricity grid.
To ensure that adequate power is delivered to the Fire Control Centre during low wind periods, an auxiliary 3kW photovoltaic (PV) system installed on the roof of the new building will deliver approximately 4020 kWh a year.
The wind turbine and PV system together will generate about 31,000 kWh per year, which would be enough to power four households and will save 33 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year.
A spokeswoman for Hornsby Council said the technology was employed in accordance with the objectives of Hornsby Council’s sustainable energy policy for new council assets, which requires all new projects to have
an average annual greenhouse gas emission at least 30 per cent below that of an existing equivalent facility and optimise opportunities to incorporate renewable energy technologies wherever possible.
She said the council had worked closely with the NSW Rural Fire Service to bring the project to fruition.
Hornsby Mayor Nick Berman said council was committed to tackling the global threat of climate change through reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“The wind turbine is just one action we’ve undertaken as part of our sustainable energy strategy,” Cr Berman said.
“We’ve also installed solar thermal heating at our three aquatic centres, encouraged the community to adopt renewable energy technologies through our Hornsby Earthwise at Home program, and trialled hybrid vehicles.”
The centre will open in October.
Original article and credit goes to:
Hornsby and Upper North Shore Advocate
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