The turbines, installed on the rooftops of an ONGC complex, produce enough power to run lights in the parking area, corridors and stairwells.Wind turbines, which one normally finds in the countryside, can now be seen against Mumbai’s skyline. A residential complex in Bandra West has installed a miniature version of windmills atop its three buildings in a bid to reduce its carbon footprint - and monthly power bill.
The three turbines collectively produce 9 KW of electricity in a day, enough to run lights in the common areas of the society (corridors, parking, stairwells) for 12 hours. Residents say the turbines are part of a hybrid system that also includes solar panels.“The system will help us pare down our power bill by Rs 6,000 every month,” said T R Sudhir, the secretary of the society, which houses employees of ONGC. The three buildings in the complex - Champang, Nawagam and Kalol - each have 18 flats.
The wind turbines and solar panels were installed on their rooftops earlier this month. A senior ONGC official said that the company had borne the entire cost of Rs 20 lakh. “We will sponsor similar hybrid systems at other ONGC colonies in the city and country,” Mohan Reddy, the deputy general manager of ONGC’s corporate communication, told Mirror. “Such power generation systems are not only eco-friendly, but also cost-effective.”Sudhir said the society was planning to take more green initiatives to reduce its dependence on the city’s power grid.
An official of Maharashtra Energy Development Agency said that more housing colonies should install wind turbines. “There are two types of windmills: one that is connected to the grid and supplies power to the area, and second that can be installed atop buildings. We give aid to buildings that take such initiatives,” he said.
Source:http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/20120530201205300313283473baf41d1/Bandra-society-gets-wind-turbines-to-reduce-power-bill.html
