News & Articles on Small & Household Size Wind Turbines
Small wind turbines encompass a broad range of wind turbines from micro turbines, to mini turbines, to household-size turbines. Wind turbines in these size classes may have power ratings from a few watts to dozens of kW. Internationally, this category includes wind turbines up to 15 meters (49 feet) in diameter. Wind turbines of this size may have power ratings from 50 to 100 kW.
While ducted or shrouded wind turbines and Vertical Axis Wind Turbines can be of any size, they are listed here because they are outside the mainstream of the commercial wind industry.
Pennsylvania Adopt An Anemometer Program 1980
By
Paul Gipe
The document below is a scanned copy of Adopt an Anemometer: A Unique Anemometer Loan Program created circa 1980 by …
Energy Ball–A Review
By
Paul Gipe
I’ve been putting off writing anything about the “Energy Ball” simply because there are too many of these “inventions” for one person to track, analyze, and report on. Like many of these contraptions, and that’s the best I can say about such devices, it’s a distraction from more serious endeavors.
Commentary on the Skystream 3.7
By
Paul Gipe
The Skystream uses a 3.72-meter diameter, three-blade, downwind rotor. Southwest Windpower claims that this rotor will deliver 1.8 kW at its rated speed of 9 m/s and generate 4,800 kWh per year at an average annual wind speed of 5.5 m/s (12.3 mph).
Skystream Field Observations
By
Paul Gipe
Twice now on our way to Pearson International Airport in Toronto we’ve passed two Skystreams in operation at a shopping center. They’ve both been operating both times. That’s plus, we need a lot more operating turbines in the Greater Toronto Area. . . The French test site for small wind turbines has published a report on the performance of Southwest Windpower’s Skystream 3.7 wind turbine. . .
Guardian: Many home turbines fall short of claims, warns study
By
Juliette Jowit
Juliette Jowit The Guardian, Tuesday 13 January 2009 Home wind turbines are generating a fraction of the energy promised by …
