Power equipment manufacturer aiming at 30 to 900-kW turbines

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Excerpt: A electrical component manufacturer has launched a partnership with Boston-based Eastern Wind Power to test new power equipment for decentralized power generation in the small-to-mid range. The Drive Technologies Div. of Siemens will provide drive trains for small-scale or micro-power generation …

1 phase 25 kW bidirectional grid-tie wind inverter makes net metering possible for farm & industrial

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Excerpt: Small and community-wind farms (25 to 100 kW) are fast growing markets in North America for wind-energy applications. But this great opportunity has drawbacks. For instance, farms are mostly supplied with split single phase power. Though single phase inverters are available for small wind turbin …

Wind or solar for home use? How about both?

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Excerpt:   The first commercially available solar-wind hybrid system in Maryland can be sized for a home or small business. One has just begun generating power on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.  Under suitable conditions, this grid-tied device, which features a residential-size wind turbine with si …

Tower bolting technology improved with interlocking cam fasteners

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Excerpt: Greg White Vice President DISC-LOCK International Culver City, Calif. www.disc-lock.com     Wind-turbine towers appear to be rising to new heights–literally. As blade lengths increase to capture more wind energy, towers must also reach higher to accommodate the longer blades …

Small wind a big part of Solar and Wind Expo

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Excerpt: Small wind was a highlight of the Solar and Wind Expo (www.thesolarandwindexpo.com) a consumer-oriented renewable energy event recently held in Baltimore. Several small-wind companies exhibiting were enthusiastic about the event and its attendees. “They came to see and learn about the l …

Mini wind turbines

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Excerpt: Mini wind turbines  vary in size and power, delivering between 5 and 200 kW. They are well-suited for small, mountain or island communities, or small plants running off low voltage lines. Bonfiglioli Riduttori S.p.A.  partners with manufacturers of mini wind plants for weak wind, high turbulenc …

Turbine designed for water shows promise in air

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Excerpt: A turbine rotor designed for use in slow moving creeks, streams, rivers, tidal flows and ocean currents (no-head water) has shown promise as a rotor for wind turbines. Inventor Joel Neumann, Palatine, Ill, says that in wind-tunnel model tests the 7-in. diameter BNBES turbine equaled a 12-in. …

8 kW wind inverter comes with double standard warranty

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Excerpt: An 8,000W inverter for wind turbines expands the Windy Boy lineup, which now consists of five models ranging from 3,000 to 8,000 W. The unit’s factory warranty, from SMA America, Rocklin, Calif. (sma-america.com) has also been increased to 10 years, with the ability to extend to 15 or 20 years. …

Is it a chimney…or a turbine?

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Excerpt: Wind turbines on houses are not always practical because some home owner associations would object to the noise it might make, or neighborhoods that restrict changes in aesthetics. A U.K. inventor may have solved the problem with a design called the Secret Energy Turbine (SET) because it disguis …

Small wind certification testing goes regional

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Excerpt: The DOE recently announced the selection of four partners to establish small wind Regional Test Centers (RTCs) to conduct tests on small wind turbines to meet national and international standards.  These awards provide funding, training, and technical support for each Regional Test Center so they m …