Small Wind Turbine Testing
Testing of small wind turbines to international standards is one of the principal ways we can insure that small wind turbines can do what their promoters claim. For decades manufactures of small wind turbines could say whatever they wanted about their wind turbines and there was no way to hold them accountable. Today–after nearly three decades of effort–there are standardized tests for measuring the performance of small wind turbines and standardized ways of reporting this performance. No one should ever buy a small wind turbine that has not been tested to international standards and the results of those tests published for the world to see.
Calculated Yield of Small Wind Turbines at Zeeland Test Site
By
Paul Gipe
Data on actual measured performance of small wind turbines at the Test Field for Small Wind Turbines in Zeeland, the Netherlands. The site has a very low average wind speed of only 3.8 m/s during the 2008 test period. The turbines, on the whole, performed poorly.
Small Wind Turbine Testing Results from the National Renewable Energy Lab
By
Nrel
Gaia-Wind II kW–Power curve and annual energy output
Massachusetts Small Wind Report
By
Paul Gipe
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.
Tests on Small Wind Turbines at Applachian State University
By
Paul Gipe
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.
Whisper H40 ASU Power Curve
By
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.
