Pioneer's windmills to hit the streets as councils see the light

Published on Saturday 7 March 2009 13:28

MINI windmills will be installed on street lights in some areas of Britain in a deal due to be signed with a Scottish wind energy pioneer.

David Gordon, chief executive of Glasgow-based Windsave, is understood to be involved in negotiations with three local authorities in England which would see up to 250,000 lights on mainly rural roads and motorways fitted with turbines.

The deal would greatly reduce local authority bills, particularly on lights which are on roads that may have a low level of traffic at night.

When the wind is only slight, the lights will automatically kick in to the traditional electrical grid supply.

Negotiations are also under way to seal a similar deal with authorities in the United States.

Gordon has also struck his biggest ever contract, a 19m deal to provide wind power turbines to South Africa.

His firm will provide the mini-turbines for homes being built in new townships on the outskirts of Cape Town.

The South African government is keen to encourage the green energy alternative in outlying areas.

The first shipments will be sent out later next month and will continue over three years. It will create 100 jobs for Livingston Precision Engineering in West Lothian, where the turbines are manufactured. Gordon believes that if the street lighting contract comes off, it would add another 50 jobs.

"Many people think of wind power as farms of giant turbines sprawling across the hillsides or out to sea, but this technology is at a micro level, one home and business at a time."

He said the domestic product had been on the market for some years but there had been a delay in the planning process.

His plans are being financed from internal resources and from key shareholder RAB Capital. Gordon said he was hoping to introduce other institutional shareholders to Windsave to help finance the firm's expansion.

He had once talked of floating the company and said this remained an option depending on market conditions.

The latest orders and interest are a major breakthrough after years of developing the technology, he said.