Small Turbine Testing

Finally, after decades of effort, the American Wind Energy Association has established performance and safety standards for small wind turbines.

I appreciate the vote of confidence in the Small Wind Certification Council’s board of directors in appointing me to the Council. It is an honor to be nominated to be part of the commercialization of the small wind turbine industry in North America. It would also have been a privilege to work alongside my peers who have labored many years to bring much-needed and long-overdue standards to the industry.

Performance monitoring of rooftop wind turbines in Great Britain

Gaia-Wind II kW–Power curve and annual energy output

Consultants to the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative have issued a damning report on the performance of small wind turbines installed under the MTC’s subsidy program.

Applachian State University has tested a number of wind turbines at its Beech Mountain Small Wind Research and Demonstration Facility. ASU has published reports on both performance and noise. It is one of the few such institutions worldwide that regularly publishes the results of its tests on small wind turbines.

Tests on the Whisper H40 at Applachian State University’s Beech Mountain Small Wind Research and Demonstration Facility by Brent Summerville confirm earlier power curve tests on the H40 at the Wulf Test Field.

Tests on the Air X at Applachian State University’s Beech Mountain Small Wind Research and Demonstration Facility by Brent Summerville differ inexplicably with power curve tests on the Air X at the Wulf Test Field.

he U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service has a long history of testing wind turbines at its research station near Bushland, Texas. They do good work. They’re fair and competent.