Wind power helps safe driving

The Japanese Ministry of Construction has bought a wind turbine to test in powering special road projects. Starting in March, electricity generated from a Nordex Balcke-Dürr 250 kW unit will be fed into a heating system used to keep ice and snow off National Road 44 at the foot of Nakayama Mountain, near Inawashiroko in Fukushima prefecture. Power will also be supplied to heat the road at both ends of the Nakayama Tunnel as well as operate lighting and fans inside the tunnel. The road and tunnel have been the site of many traffic accidents during cold weather. Excess power will be sold to the local utility. The ministry bought the turbine for JPY 58.5 million from Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries Co, the Japanese agent of Nordex Balcke-Dürr.