Global first as Telford & Wrekin Council trials innovative Alpha 311 wind turbines powered by passing vehicles
British wind turbine company Alpha 311 is working in partnership with Telford & Wrekin Council to place innovative turbines along public roads as part of a cutting-edge pilot scheme to power street lighting.
Reinforcing its commitment to sustainability, the council will be the first in the UK to trial this new technology on public highways.
Telford & Wrekin Council will trial the new wind turbines which will be attached to selected street lighting on the A442, harvesting the wind generated by passing vehicles. The project is underwritten by a third party, with no cost expected to the authority.
The turbines turn in low wind speeds, and will not only power the street lights, but also have the potential to produce surplus energy that the council can use for powering other lighting or putting back into the grid.
The pilot begins later in the year and, depending on its success, could include more turbines along this section of route.
Councillor Carolyn Healy (Labour), Telford & Wrekin Council cabinet member for climate change, green spaces, natural and historic environment and cultural services, said:
“This is an absolutely phenomenal pilot and I’m so proud that Telford & Wrekin Council is leading the way internationally in trialling this technology.
“As a council, we have a strong track record on innovative sustainability, having built the UK’s second only publicly owned solar farm in 2014. More recently, in January we ranked in the top 3% of UK local authorities for climate change action planning. This new partnership with Alpha 311 restates our commitment to tackling the climate emergency and reinforces our approach: that actions speak louder than words.”
Alpha 311 CEO Barry Thompson said:
“While we already have our turbines mounted on buildings, this marks the first installation alongside a road, which is really the sweet-spot for the Alpha 311 turbine. It’s very bold for a council to be a first-mover, and I’m delighted that Telford & Wrekin is the first.”
Image features an artist's impression of how the wind turbines will look, attached to street lighting, on the A442.
