Jeff Rhodes of Airdrie-based RnR Energy Ltd. recently installed a cutting edge wind turbine for a business in Calgary.
On Aug. 26, the local entrepreneur erected the five-kilowatt Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) at DIRTT Environmental Solutions in the Foothills Industrial Park.
“This is the first VAWT the City of Calgary has authorized that I know of,” said Rhodes, the owner and operator of RnR, a renewable energy provider with a focus on vertical axis wind turbines.
“It is quite beneficial for them because they run 24/7, so every time the wind blows, it is saving them electricity.”
DIRTT, which stands for Doing It Right This Time, creates pre-engineered, pre-manufactured movable walls and access floors.
“We are all about sustainablility,” said John Woolmer, facility manager of DIRTT Environmental Solutions.
“We are about supporting the environment and doing sustainable construction.”
DIRTT has also adopted other forms of alternative energy including more efficient lighting and solar power.
“It is not really about saving the money and managing the costs, it is mostly about promoting the technology,” said Woolmer, adding that the turbine cost about $40,000.
“We hope it catches on. It is up to the industries and the companies to stand up and start leading. The only way these technologies are going to evolve is if they are supported.”
Rhodes said although alternative energy isn’t catching on as quickly as he would like, more companies are starting to take notice.
“Industry is starting to look into green initiatives but a lot of companies are standing back and waiting to see how things go,” he said.
“I think this is going to be a real spearhead because DIRTT is in Calgary and other companies can see what they are doing.”
Woolmer agreed, saying a number of other companies have come to DIRTT to ask about the benefits of alternative energy.
Rhodes said the building is an ideal location for the turbine because of common wind gusts from the Bow River. It starts operating at 7.5 miles per hour, and automatically shuts itself off for six hours when it experiences 55 mph winds. An automatic aerodynamic variable pitch is used for over-speed protection. The five blades are just over 15 feet tall and have a rotor diameter of just over 13 feet.
“The turbine is omni-directional so no matter which direction the wind blows, it is always generating power,” he said.
Its omni-directional design allows for superior wind force harvesting. It virtually makes no noise, moves slow in moderate wind and it has redundant braking for safety.
Woolmer said the versatility of the turbine was one of the biggest benefits of the VAWT. The turbine helps to power 45 lights in a 25,000-square-foot factory.
