City Council powered by Windflow 500

3 July 2003

The Windflow 500 wind turbine being launched at Gebbies Pass by Windflow Technology Ltd on 9 July will effectively power the Christchurch City Council Civic Offices for 10 years, says the Mayor of Christchurch Garry Moore.

Mr Moore said yesterday that the recent energy crisis had shown a clear need to look for sustainable alternative energy sources.

The City Council had shown foresight in backing the Windflow 500 project to ensure its development as a source of energy for the city. A contract signed in May 2001 committed the Council to buy 100 per cent of the energy from Windflow Technology ’s first wind turbine, he said.

Windflow Technology is a Christchurch company run by professional engineer Geoff Henderson, who has been involved with wind power for 20 years. The Windflow 500 design leads the way globally on energy-generation efficiency and structural excellence.

Signing the contract was in line with the Council’s sustainability policy which seeks to reduce energy consumption while seeking sustainable energy sources with minimum impact on the environment.

The wind turbine’s annual output represents about 3.3 per cent of the electricity that the Council buys for its own operations, about the same as that used to power the Civic Offices.

Many wind turbines are in use around the world and in three areas in the lower North Island. It is the fastest growing form of electricity generation world-wide and a major export earner for Denmark (population 5 million).

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