Sky Tower gets a wind turbine

Photo / Dean Purcell

Workers on Tuesday fixed a wind turbine near the top of the Sky Tower.

The turbine is part of an initiative by Vector aimed at measuring the viability of wind-generated electricity.

Similar turbines are already in place on the Waitakere City Council building and in Waitangi Park in Wellington.

The trials will extend to 10 sites.

The wind turbine is designed to operate in the relatively low speed and turbulent winds that occur at rooftop level.

Overseas trials show that the micro turbine produces an output of 1.5kW which could provide between 2000 and 3000kW/h (units) of electricity a year.

The average New Zealand household uses around 8000kW/h annually.