Item HT 3138 Wind Turbine Model - Pacific Hydro Ltd, circa 2001

Summary

Wind Turbine Model made in Denmark, commissioned by Pacific Hydro Limited, Melbourne, circa 2001.
This model was based on contemporary 1.5 MW wind turbines supplied by NEG-Micon that were installed in Victoria during the early 2000s. This model is powered by a small electric motor, it is 5.5 metres high, with a rotor diameter of 4 metres, revolving at 17 revolutions per minute.

A typical wind turbine generates 1.5 megawatts from the wind, the energy for about 1,000 homes. The height of a wind turbine is over 100 metres and the rotor diameter is 64 metres. The blades rotate about 18 times a minute. Turbines will stop rotating in low wind, and are designed to go no faster than 18 rotations a minute in high winds.

Physical Description

White pole supports three white slimline blades.

Significance

This is an important addition to the collection and will offer an engaging exhibit adjacent to the windmills currently on display at Melbourne Museum. The model is activated.

This will also extend the focus of our engineering collection to include contemporary issues of energy conservation and technologies being developed using renewable energy sources. It is claimed that wind energy is the 'greenest' of all energy forms: "Of all the green power sources, windmills occupy the least amount of land, can be built close to consumers, reducing transmission losses, yield the most electricity per installed megawatt of capacity, have the lowest energy payback period, and produce zero emissions."

This model represents the world's leading wind turbines. This European technology is currently being used across many wind farms in Australia. The model is also a way of presenting the move of Australia away from overseas technology to the local manufacture of wind turbines.

The model has direct links with the Victorian government's commitment to reducing and reviewing its energy use. As a government agency, Museum Victoria is required to buy at least 5% of its electricity from renewable energy sources and reduce its energy consumption by 15% by June 2006.

As most of the wind farms will be located in rural areas, there is a further opportunity of assessing the impact of this new technology on farmers and other landusers.