NYP one of first institutions in S'pore to install
vertical-axis wind turbine
In keeping with the green movement, Nanyang Polytechnic is
embarking on more R&D work in the area.
It's invested some 15,000 dollars in a vertical-axis wind turbine
on its premises.
Besides being used as a training tool for students, the wind
turbine will also generate electricity for the polytechnic.
Jeremy Koh tells us more.
The great climate conference in Copenhagen may have ended with a
whimper.
But that's not the end of the green movement.
Nanyang Polytechnic is coming up with a new course next year
focusing on clean technology as well as green and sustainable
energy.
And students enrolled in the course will get to tinker with one of
the few vertical axis wind turbines in Singapore.
This despite the fact that horizontal wind turbines are more
commonly seen around the world.
Chan Yew Meng is the Senior Director of the School of Engineering's
Electronics division in NYP.
"Vertical wind turbines at this point in time, the
development is such that it can turn at much lower wind speed than
horizontal wind turbine. So this could be a key development for
future harnessing of wind energy. So it's important for NYP to work
on this wind turbine, the vertical axis one, get the students
trained in this new technology because it's gaining
acceptance."
To illustrate how efficient the vertical axis wind turbine is in
operating in very low wind speeds, Mr Chan says it can even capture
the energy from the exhaust of an aircon unit.
Though on its own, the vertical axis wind turbine will not be
generating much energy, any electricity generated will be fed back
into Nanyang Poly’s electricity grid.
Mr Chan again.
"Energy cost is one of the biggest business cost
for any organisation, so the ability to reduce energy demand and to
make better use of energy will be very important to
enterprises."
The new Diploma in Electrical Engineering will take in some 50
students in its first year.
Thereafter, it will be expanded to admit some 200 students
annually.
--938Live