Story: Wind and solar power
Photographed in 1984, Frank Cresswell of Petone was heading for energy self-sufficiency, using a variety of methods to harness Mother Nature’s energy in his back yard. His solar panels heated water to 80°C in summer and 50°C in winter, and the conventional wind turbine produced 200 watts of electrical energy. He had not determined the energy output of his oil-drum wind generator.
Another resourceful inventor, Michael Lawlie, takes motors from discarded washing machines and converts them to small wind turbines by adding a couple of blades and tweaking the electronics. Listen to Michael talking to Sean Plunket on Morning Report in 2003.
Sound file from Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
About this item
Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP/1984/2513-F
Photograph by Greg King
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.