Football club aims for wind-powered floodlights

By Avril Ormsby

LONDON (Reuters) - A Highland football club is planning to use wind turbines to power its floodlights during evening and winter games.

Deveronvale hopes to be the first football club in Britain to power its floodlights with wind energy when it installs turbines at its Princess Royal Park stadium in Banff, northeast Scotland.

The club, currently sixth in the Highland League, believes there is enough wind blowing through the town to generate about 300,000 kilowatt-hours.

It is believed the turbines, which would sit on top of two sets of floodlights about 25 metres from the ground, would provide enough energy to power the stadium and nearby community centre, as well as local homes and businesses.

The turbines would cost about 400,000 pounds, but the club has been told by energy experts that they will pay for themselves in seven years.

Bob McLardy, match organiser for the club, said: "The town is not a windy one, but there is wind in Scotland, certainly."

The supporters, who normally number about 600, need not worry about the noise drowning out their chants, as the turbines will be switched off during play.

McLardy admitted the turbines would be visible from the surrounding area, but reassured the 4,500 people who live in the town that they would benefit from the energy savings.