By Kath Gannaway
FORTY years on, Moora Moora co-operative is still leading the way in alternative energy with the installation last week of a single-blade wind turbine.
The co-operative on Mt Toolebewong between Healesville and Don Valley, is off-the-grid, embracing solar and wind energy along with alternative building methods.
The installation of the Thinair 102 by New Zealand company Powerhouse Wind is a first for Australia.
One of the team of engineers behind the turbine, Powerhouse engineer Bill Currie, teamed up with Eltham renewable energy electrician and installer, Trevor Robotham to make it happen on ‘the big island’.
Moora Moora pioneer Peter Cock said the turbine was a celebration of 40 years of living off the grid, and alternative living innovation on the mountain.
“This system provides power for five houses in this cluster,” he explained, obviously excited to be breaking new ground.
“We’ve been experimenting since we first set up the co-op up here and there’s no doubt that renewable energy is much more reliable than the grid.
“When all of Healesville is out, as seems to be happening more and more, we still have power up here,” he said.
Mr Currie said the Thinair was specifically designed for domestic use, and based on research was asking wind turbine owners what would stop them buying a new one.
“Noise was top of the list, so the single blade makes the rotor very quiet,” he said.
He said good performance, reliability, aesthetics and, because of proximity to houses, survival in high winds, were other criteria.
Mr Cock said the new wind turbine complemented the cluster’s solar system enabling them to make the most of the elements year-round, day and night.
