Wind energy is likely to have an increasing share of electricity production nationally. The electric consumption in Italy in 2006 was 338 billion kWh in the third (just under 1%) with wind power.
Large wind turbines are highly efficient but invasive and vulnerable to extreme weather events.
Small wind turbines overcome these disadvantages but are a less efficient and more expensive solution.
SIT proposes ELDER: microeolico integrated with the street lighting poles:
- Distributed generation: small plants in the size 0.5-2 kW.
The choice of small size allows installation on 6-8 meters poles, for example the existing light poles. - Technology: the most appropriate structure is to vertical axis wind turbine for which are being developed best design solutions and performance..
- Economy of scale: local authorities can handle the distributed wind factories. We estimate that 20% of poles are usable. This is equivalent to 2.4 GW, much more that power now installed in Italy.
The project of micro wind installations ELDER received the third prize in 2008 edition of the Premio Vespucci, a recognition to the ideas and business projects the most brilliant and innovative , to enhance the talent and the know-how, promoted by the Tuscany Regional Council and Confindustria Toscana
