Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT’s) are efficient and cost effective under certain conditions, the vastmajority of sites do not enjoy these “ideal conditions“. HAWT’s are noisy, and therefore rules out urban deployments.If we are truly going to make a difference with renewable energy, we must bring it to the cities where mostconsumption occurs. It’s common sense to generate as close to your load as possible. This eliminates the need forexpensive upgrades to aging distribution grids. This means VAWT’s are the only viable wind solution for urban centers.
VAWT advantages
Can produce 50% more electricity per year over conventional systems with the same swept area.
Massive towers not required. Mount closer to the ground.
No yaw mechanisms and no gearbox’s. Accepts wind from all directions. This means less moving partsto breakdown, no leaking oil and more efficient transfer of power.
Can be located nearer the ground…easier to maintain.
Starts to generate at much lower speeds…6 m.p.h. (10 km/h).
Continues to generate in extremely high wind speeds.
May be deployed where taller structures are prohibited.
Will not harm wildlife. Birds see them as a solid object and steer clear.
Best of all…they are virtually silent!
Vertical Axis Wind Turbines are available in the following sizes: 300W - 1KW - 3KW - 6KW - 20KW - 28KW (coming in 2010).
