‘Propeller type’ wind turbines on houses and buildings are always a problem when it comes to planning; the fact is they aren’t particularly pretty especially in the suburbs and villages. Inevitably these applications elicit strong opinions. So I was interested to learn more about the Power Collective’s innovative RidgeBlade, potentially an affordable and effective way of harnessing the wind's power to produce renewable electricity.
RidgeBlade addresses the twin problems associated with traditional micro-wind generation technologies – visual impact and efficiency. RidgeBlade’s unique design means it can reliably produce electricity in low or variable wind conditions. Because RidgeBlade is fitted on the ridge line at the top of a building and uses the existing roof area to collect and focus the prevailing wind; this is where the wind is forced to travel over the roof surface, accelerating the airflow though the turbine. Even if Ridgeblade is retro-fitted, it creates very little visual impact. This means that it is suitable for locations including urban houses, rural buildings and environmentally-sensitive areas like Dartmoor National Park.
Teignbridge’s Energy Efficiency Officer will be finding out more. RidgeBlade will be commercially available in 2010. Details of grants for domestic renewables are here: http://cllrdavidcox.blogspot.com/2009/09/renewable-energy-grants.html
RidgeBlade® is a registered trademark and the illustrations are ©copyright of the Power Collective.
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