The integrated bus terminus (IBT), coming up at Panjapur on the Tiruchi-Madurai Highway, will have a wind tree, a micro wind turbine designed to mimic trees, generating electricity.
Unlike the traditional wind turbine, which requires the wind velocity of 7 km per hour to generate electricity, the wind tree can do it with wind velocity of just 2.5 km per hour. The wind tree will have 10 KW capacity per hour, thereby generating 240 KW of power in a day. It will be installed at an estimate of ₹68 lakh.
The Tiruchi district administration will install the wind tree with the participation of the Tiruchi-based Contura Solar Power Pvt. Ltd. by tapping funds through sponsorships and Corporate Social Responsibility contribution. It is claimed that it will be the first wind tree in these parts of the region.
Collector M. Pradeep Kumar told The Hindu that the wind tree, which could generate power at low velocity, was a latest technology in the new renewable energy sources. It had been decided to install a wind tree at Panjapur to cater to the need of a portion of the electricity of the bus terminus. The micro wind turbine would act as a demonstrative end energy plant to disseminate information on the advancement on wind energy.
Site allotted
The Tiruchi Corporation has earmarked a place on the premises of the bus terminus to install the wind tree, which will be of 30-foot tall. The wings of the tree will spread for eight metre similar to the branches of trees.
Arun Rebero, Director, Contura Solar Power, said that micro wind turbine was an innovative technology of a French-based company. The metallic tree boasts branches adorned with micro wind turbines that imitate leaves. It could be installed anywhere. It was ideal for urban settings as well. A survey was conducted at Panjapur to study the average wind speed. It was found that the average wind speed stood at 4.5 km per hour at the proposed installation site. It was more than sufficient for generating wind energy.
Published – December 20, 2024 07:05 pm IST
