How to make a pretty effective turbine rotor using nothing more than an old bicycle wheel and some duct tape.

in Small Wind

Though Rickshaw is one the most Eco-friendly vehicles but pedaling one is a herculean task that leaves the puller sweating from head to toe. But a pedicab driver from Nepal has a different story to tell when he eased the effort by installing a windmill to his rickshaw. Built by a professor in the next town, the wind mill was made of metal drum that works as a windmill to help provide extra thrust to the pedicab. Dubbed the wind-human hybrid vehicle, the windmill is connected to the rear wheel with a side-mounted gear, which would make the pedicab easier to pedal in a tailwind

http://www.automotto.com/entry/wind-driven-rickshaw-is-a-wind-human-hybrid-vehicle/

in Small Wind

Even as they become more common, small-scale wind turbines remain a source of dispute in the renewable energy community.

Proponents say small wind turbines are ready to be an indispensable part of any home or small business’s energy mix, while critics say they’re inherently expensive and inefficient.

Read More: http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2012/01/04/small-wind-turbines/

in Small Wind Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

In an interview to the English news channel ET NOW, some of the prominent names of the Indian renewable energy industry shared their thoughts on why wind power was losing its speed in the alternative energy sector. Mr. Narasimhan Santhanam, Director, Energy Alternatives India [EAI] explained on how the Wind farms were initially set up in areas where there were no land acquisition problems and in the coastal region of the state; followed by Mr. Shivaram, vice-chairman & CEO, Orient Green Power, who elaborated on how the industrial demand and the incentivized packages like guaranteed Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) and a 80% discounted depreciation catapulted wind energy to its peak. These facts were reaffirmed by Mr. Banmali Agarwala, ED, Strategy and Business Development, TATA Power, who also said that the estimated capacity of wind energy was 12 GW. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I-W1x3uyAY

in Onshore Wind Offshore Wind Small Wind

Small Wind - UK Market Report - a detailed, useful report - http://www.bwea.com/pdf/small/Small_Wind_Systems_Market_Report_2011.pdf

in Small Wind

Small Wind Turbines Getting Popular, Home Depot Starts Selling Them

Arizona-based Southwest Windpower, one of the pioneers and leading manufacturers of small wind turbines, says its Skystream 3.7 turbine will be available at stores in Texas, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and California, and will expand to other states.

Designed for use on farms, homes and businesses, the turbine can produce up to 400 kWh of clean electricity per month depending on the wind resource and site location. The average US home uses about 930 kwh per month according to government figures.

The Skystream 3.7 price is based on where it's installed. A survey of websites that sell it shows it ranges from $6,000 to $9,000 before incentives.

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/22641

in Small Wind

http://www.windside.com/ - a small wind turbine (vertical) that appears promising

in Small Wind

Home Depot's latest small wind deal

Home Depot will begin to offer small wind turbines and installation services from Southwest Windpower, both companies announced today.

Southwest Windpower makes a small wind turbine called the Skystream 3.7 Personal Wind Turbine.

The turbine is rated at 2.4 kilowatts and produces about 400 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month when operating at a minimal wind speed of 12 miles per hour, according to the turbine manufacturer.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20073308-54/home-depots-latest-small-wind-deal/

in Small Wind

Bayer MaterialScience - Small wind turbines, big output

Spanish company Kliux Energies - Geolica Innovations SL has developed a completely new, intelligent technology for harnessing wind energy.

The system is based on special rotors positioned vertically so that they are always facing the wind. The Kliux wind turbines can be installed in virtually any location to generate electricity for local consumption. An integral skin foam based on the Baydur polyurethane system from Bayer MaterialScience was selected as the material for the rotor blades because it meets the exacting demands on strength and lightweight design. The rotor blades are produced by Policam in Barcelona.

http://www.cospp.com/news/2011/06/1447522807/bayer-materialscience-small-wind-turbines-big-output.html

in Small Wind

Small-scale turbine is 'very efficient' at lower wind speeds

The creators of a vertical-axis wind turbine say their new design could at least double the energy it captures at lower speeds.

Pembrokeshire-based Quiet Revolution has found a way to make small changes to the size, aerodynamics and electrical conversion and control systems of its small-scale turbines that yield substantial increases in the amount of energy produced.

Initial tests suggest the new design is particularly effective at lower wind speeds, meaning it could open up locations that were not previously cost effective as turbine sites.

http://www.theengineer.co.uk/sectors/energy-and-environment/news/small-scale-turbine-is-very-efficient-at-lower-wind-speeds/1009185.article

in Small Wind