While solar power gets a lot of attention in the US as a
possible alternative energy source, European countries are
focusing a great deal of attention on wind power. Denmark gets
20% of its power from wind, a percentage that's set to rise to
at least 25% by the end of the decade. Most the Danish wind
farms use giant turbines; these can be efficient, but expensive.
Another up-and-coming wind power nation, Scotland, has decided
to take a different approach: rooftop turbines. According to the
Financial Times, the first five rooftop turbines in a pilot
program have now been installed in Fife, using a new turbine
technology from the Edinburgh-based firm Renewable Devices. Not
designed to totally replace grid power, the turbines are
intended to provide supplemental power. The Renewable Devices
design is the first to be able to dampen the noise and vibration
enough to allow rooftop installation. For now, the turbines cost
£10,000, but Renewable Devices believes that they can get the
price down to £1,500 in short ord