small turbines with big potential

Sun & Wind Energy 1/2010108

The main focus is on SWTs for energy generation with a nominal output of up to 100 kW. This out-put range includes the so-called micro SWTs (up

to 1 kW), the mini SWTs (up to 10 kW) and the midi SWTs (up to 100 kW). For domestic purposes, turbines up to 30 kW are normally used. Distinction is made between turbines with a vertical or horizontal axis.

As for vertical axis turbines, there are lift-type ro-tors such as the Darrieus rotor – also known as the “egg beater”, which has rotor blades attached to the upper and lower end of the axis – and the special shape H Darrieus rotor, whose vertical blades and

horizontal support arm make it resemble the letter H. In addition, SWTs also include drag-type rotors such as the Savonius rotor, which has vertically aligned blades. Vertical axis turbines do not require wind tracking, which makes assembly easier. Moreover, they are more silent in operation – a recommended feature for use on buildings. Horizontal axis turbines, however, similar in build to most large-scale wind tur-bines, are more widespread on the market than the vertical axis turbines. In this type of turbine, the en-tire rotor is exposed to the wind, thus offering higher efficiency.

Small turbines with big potential

The market for small wind turbines (SWTs) is characterised by a

vast number of manufacturers and products. This puts the

focus all the more on quality issues. SUN & WIND ENERGY

provides its readers with an overview.

Ampair turbine on Mount Erebus, Antarctica: small wind turbines can supply even the most remote regions with electricity. Photo: Ampair

Wind EnErgy small Wind turbinEs

To collect information for the market overview, 124 SWT manufacturers were sur-veyed. Manufacturers from around the world were taken into consideration. Out of the surveyed, 26 companies re-sponded. As expected, the response shows that the hor-izontal axis turbines out-weigh among the products (see table). Reliable figures and statistics are not to be found in the small wind tur-bine business since there are no records of new plants due to the lack of a feed-in tariff.

Sun & Wind Energy 1/2010 109

green light: in April 2009, the financial benefits of the “Renewable Obligation” were doubled and this year is to see the introduction of a feed-in tariff as well as a speedy streamlining of UK planning requirements.

The increasing importance of certification

In many countries it is not easy obtaining a building approval for an SWT. It would be helpful if more man-ufacturers were to certify their turbines. Not least in the interest of safety. Working on behalf of the manu-facturers, testing institutes such as Germanischer Lloyd (GL) in Hamburg, Germany, create country- specific type tests and individual tests as well as draw up international certifications. These certifica-tions are becoming increasingly important. In Britain,

The nacelle of the 20 kW Gazelle turbine, produced by the British company Gazelle Wind Turbines Ltd.

Photo: Gazelle Wind Turbines

Almost all manufacturers have their own production facilities, as shown here at the company Aircon in Leer in Northern Germany. Photo: Aircon

Utilisation possibilities of SWTs go from grid feed using inverters, recharging batteries using charge controllers to so-called “heat turbines” that drive a heating element charging a buffer storage tank. SWTs are installed with a free-standing or guyed mast, on roofs or mobile objects such as ships, yachts or buoys. This makes them an ideal decentralised ener-gy supply, also possible in combination with other re-newable energy sources.

Core markets USA and Great Britain

Across the world the important associations of the wind power industry are increasingly attaching value to the small wind power sector. In Germany, this sec-tor saw the founding of its own association, the Ger-man Association of Small Wind Turbines (Bundesver-band Kleinwindanlagen, BVKW). In 2008, 19,000 new turbines with a total output of 38.7 MW were installed on the global SWT market. At 17.3 MW, almost half was installed on the US market. The 10,500 new tur-bines sold in the USA accounted for a turnover of US$ 77 million (see also S&WE 8/2009, p. 129). By the end of 2008, the overall capacity of the US small wind turbines had thus increased to 80 MW.

As for Europe, Great Britain is the centre of small wind turbines. Not only can Europe’s greatest wind potential be found there, but also more than 20 MW (10,000 turbines) has been installed in Britain since 2005 according to the “Small Wind Systems UK Mar-ket Report 2009” published by the British Wind Ener-gy Association (BWEA). In 2008, the already installed turbines produced 24.5 GWh of electricity and a new 7.24 MW (3,453 turbines) was built. The BWEA estimates that as early as 2020, an annual 1,700 GWh will be produced by the forecasted 600,000 turbines. But even to-day the small wind power sector is creating more jobs: Great Brit-ain has more than 15 manufac-turers guaranteeing 1,880 jobs together with the upstream and downstream steps. Their prod-ucts are exported to 100 coun-tries worldwide, which repre-sents an export share of 50 %.

The reason why these two markets are now developing so well is partly due to the financial conditions: US customers profit from the 30 % Investment Tax Credit (ITC) over eight years giv-en on purchases of small wind turbines up to 100 kW. Since February last year, even the ITC cap has been removed, allowing for tax benefits until the end of 2016. In Great Britain small wind turbines are also given the

Wind EnErgy


small Wind turbinEs

Manufacturer, country

Type of SWTYear of launch

Available in which countries

Sold units

Hub height [m]Rated power [kW]

Cut-in wind speed [m/s]

Rated wind speed [m/s]

Rotor diameter [m]

Number of blades

Type of generatorGenerator output voltage [V], AC or DC (number of phases)

Warranty [years] Tower constructionNoncommittal gross final customer price [€]

Website

Aircon GmbH & Co. KG, Germany

Aircon 10S 2003 worldwide 7618 / 24 / 30

9.8 3.5 11 7.1 3 permanent magnet 400 AC (3) 2 lattice mast51,087 / 60,666 / 68,103

www.aircon-international.de

Ampair, Great Britain

Ampair 100 / 300 / 600 / 6000

1984 / 2006 / 2007 / 2009

worldwide

10,000+ / 100+ / 50+ / 1+

2-5 / 2-5 / 5-10 / 10-40

0.1 / 0.3 / 0.6 / 6

3 / 3 / 2.5 / 2.5

15 / 11 / 11 / 11

0.9 / 1.2 / 1.7 / 5.5

6 / 3 / 3 / 3

permanent magnet

n/a AC (2) / n/a AC (3) / n/a AC (3) / n/a AC (3)

2

aluminium / aluminium / steel / steel

685 / 1,300 / 2,300 / 14,000

www.ampair.com

Bergey Windpower, USA

Excel-S / Excel-R / XL.1

1983 / 1983 / 2000

approx. 100 countries

~1,200 / ~600 / ~4,000

18-43 / 18-43 / 18-30

10 / 7.5 / 1

2.2 / 4 / 3.2

12 / 11 / 12

7 / 7 / 2.4

3 permanent magnet220-240 AC (n/a) / 24, 48 or 240 DC / 24 or 48 DC

10 / 10 / 5

steel, galvanised21,850 / 18,350 / 2,070

www.bergey.com

Braun Windturbinen GmbH, Germany

Antaris 1700 / 3500 / 5000

1992 / 2003 / 2008

EU150 / 200 / 30

15 / 15 / 20

1.7 / 3.5 / 5

2.8 / 2.5 / 2.0

123 / 3.5 / 4.4

3 permanent magnet 400 AC (3) 2 steel tube on request www.braun-windturbinen.com

Cyclone Wind Generators, Canada, China

800 W / 1.6 kW / 3.2 kW / 4.8 kW / 14.5 kW

n/aCanada, USA, Europe

n/a n/a

0.8 / 1.6 / 3.2 / 4.8 / 14.5

2-3 / 2.5-3.5 / 2.5-3.5 / 2.5-3.5 / 2.5-3.5

16-18 / 16-18 / 16-18 / 16-18 / 16-18

2.4 / 2.8 / 4.0 / 5.0 / 8.0

3 permanent magnet

12, 24, 48 AC (3) / 12, 24, 48, 250, 380 AC (3) / 48, 250, 380 AC (3) / 48, 250, 380 AC (3) / 48, 250, 380 AC (3)

5 n/a

2,200/ 3,100-3,500 / 6,570 / 8,500 / 34,000

www.cyclonewindgenerators.com

Dongguan C&G Wind Power Co. Ltd, China

400 W / 600 W / 1,000 W / 3,000 W

2005

China, Europe, America, Austra-lia, South Africa, Middle East

n/a 8, 10 or 12

0.4 / 0.6 / 1 / 3

2.8 / 2.8 / 3 / 3.5

12.3 / 12.4 / 12.5 / 12.5

2 / 2.2 / 2.6 / 4.5

3 permanent magnet

12 or 24 DC / 12 or 24 DC / 24 or 48 DC / 110 DC

3 lattice mast

516 / 568 / 823 / 2,887

www.cgwindpower.com

EasyWind GmbH, Germany

EasyWind 6 AC / DC n/a worldwide n/a 7, 13, 19 6 / 7.5 3 10.6 / 11.5 6 4asynchronous, pole-changeable / asynchronous

400 AC (3) / 120 DC (3)

n/a guyed tubular mast on request www.easywind.org

Eclectic Energy Ltd., Great Britain

D400 horizontal axis direct drive

2005 worldwide 2,000+ variable 0.24 2.6 11 1.1 5 permanent magnet n/a 2 steel tube 1,050 www.eclectic-energy.com

Fortis Wind Energy, Netherlands

Passaat / Montana / Alize

1985 / 1988 / 1992

worldwide1,400 / 1,600 / 160

12-241.4 / 5 / 10

2.516 / 17 / 13

3.12 / 5 / 7

3 / 4 / 5

permanent magnet24 or 48 AC (6) / 48 or 240 AC (9) / 120 or 240 AC (9)

5 guyed, detached on request www.fortiswindenergy.com

Gazelle Wind Turbines Ltd., Great Britain

Gazelle 1998 Great Britain 2413, 14.6 or 20.6

20 4.5 12.5 11 3 n/a 400 AC (3) 1 steel tube n/a www.mkw.co.uk

Green Energy Technologies, USA

WindCube 2008 USA 1 roof installation 60 2.2 12 4.6 5 asynchronous, direct drive 480 AC (3) 1steel mast, roof-mounted

189,282 *) www.getsmartenergy.com

Heyde Windtechnik, Germany

Antaris 2,5 KS / 2,5 KS LV / 3,5 KS / 3,5 KS LV / 5,0 KS

2005 / 2005 / 2007 / 2007 / 2009

Europe

55 / 12 / 80 / 15 / 25

8-12

2.5 / 2.5 / 3.5 / 3.5 / 5

3 11

3 / 3 / 3.5 / 3.5 / 4.2

3 permanent magnet

400 AC (3) / 48 AC (3) / 400 AC (3) / 48 AC (3) / 400 AC (3)

2 lattice or tubular mast

approx. 6,175 / approx. 6,295 / approx. 6,650 / approx. 6,770 / approx. 9,400

www.heyde-windtechnik.de

Landmark Power Concepts GmbH, Germany (manufacturer from Spain and the USA)

Inclin 250 / 600 / 1500 neo / 3000 neo / 6000 neo / BWC Excel-R /-S

n/a worldwide n/a various

0.25 / 0.6 / 1.5 / 3 / 6 / 7.5 / 10

3 / 3.5 / 3.5 / 3.5 / 3.5 / 3.4 / 3.4

11 / 11 / 12 / 12 / 12 / 13.4 / 16

1.4 / 2 / 2.7 / 3.7 / 3.7 / 7 / 7

2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 3 / 3 / 3

permanent magnet n/a

2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 5 / 5

lattice or tubular mast n/a www.landmark-power.com

Mariah Power, USA

1.2 kW Windspire 2008USA, France, Denmark, Costa Rica

350 3 1.2 3.6 11.2 1.2 3 permanent magnet 35 AC (3) 5 steel tube 7,000-9,000 www.mariahpower.com

PSW-Energiesysteme, Germany

EN-Drive 2010 EU -7.2 / 10.2

10.5 2.2 12.5 6.2 3 various400 AC (3) / 230 n/a (1) / 48 DC (optional)

2 conical steel mastfrom 25,000 upwards

www.psw-energiesysteme.com

Sirena GmbH, Germany

Aerocatcher SimPlex 500 / WinPlex 2500 / WinPlex 5500 / aero 3000

2008 / 2009 / 2009 / 2010

Germany n/avarious / 9 / 12 / various

0.5 / 2.5 / 5.5 / 3

2.5 / 2.5 / 2.5 / 3.8

12 / 12 / 12 / 14

2 / 3.2 / 6.4 / 2 (at 4.5 m)

3, 4, 6 / 3, 4, 6 / 3, 4, 6 / 3

permanent magnet40 DC / 230 AC (3) / 230 AC (3) / 240 AC (3) /

2 steel tube

795 / 4,995 / 9,110 / 8,855

www.aerocatcher.de

Solar-Wind-Team GmbH, Germany

FLIP 150 / 500

2004 / 2008

worldwiden/a / 50

n/a0.15 / 0.5

1.8 / 2.8

131.1 / 1.6

3 permanent magnet12, 24 AC (3) / 48 AC (3)

2 n/a900 / 1,800

www.wind-mobil.de

Southwest Windpower, USA

Air Breeze / Whisper 100 / Whisper 200 / Skystream 3.7 / Whisper 500

1996 / 1996 / 1996 / 2006 / 1996

worldwide

12,000 / 8,000 / 8,000 / 6,000 / 3,000

n/a

0.16 / 0.9 / 1 / 2.4 / 3

2.68 / 3.4 / 3.1 / 3.5 / 3.4

12.5 / 12.5 / 11.6 / 13 / 10.5

1.17 / 2.1 / 2.7 / 3.72 / 4.5

3 permanent magnet

12, 24, 36, 48 DC / 12, 24, 36, 48 DC / 12, 24, 36, 48 DC / 230 V AC (n/a) - 120 AC (n/a) / 12, 24, 36, 48 DC

3 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5

optional / optional / optional / steel, galvanised / optional

800 (turbine) / 1,720 (turbine) / 2,078 (turbine) / 16,500 (complete) / 5,384 (turbine)

www.airbreeze.com; www.windenergy.com; www.skystreamenergy.com

Superwind GmbH, Germany

SW 350 2004 worldwide n/adepends on mast

0.35 3.5 12.5 1.2 3 permanent magnet 12, 24, 48 DC 3 n/a 1,490 www.superwind.com

S&W Energiesysteme, Germany

S&W 3.0 / S&W 20.0

2009 / 2010

Germany7 / 2

12 / 24

3 / 20

2.511.9 / 11.5

3.56 / 8.9

3 asynchronous 400 AC (3) 8 guyed tubular mast6,300 / 26,300

www.s-und-w-energie.de

Taos Wind Energy, China

Taos 600 / 1000 / 2000

2006 8 countries100 / 400 / 300

8 / 8 / 10

0.6 / 1 / 2

2.6 121.8 / 2 / 2.8

3 permanent magnet24, 100 AC (3) / 24, 200 AC (3) / 48, 300 AC (3)

3 as requested n/a www.taoswind.com

Market overview: Small wind turbines





Sold units




Rotor diameter [m]

Number of blades


Warranty [years] Tower constructionNoncommittal gross final customer price [€]

Website

Aircon GmbH & Co. KG, Germany

Aircon 10S 2003 worldwide 7618 / 24 / 30

9.8 3.5 11 7.1 3 permanent magnet 400 AC (3) 2 lattice mast51,087 / 60,666 / 68,103

www.aircon-international.de

Ampair, Great Britain

Ampair 100 / 300 / 600 / 6000

1984 / 2006 / 2007 / 2009

worldwide

10,000+ / 100+ / 50+ / 1+

2-5 / 2-5 / 5-10 / 10-40

0.1 / 0.3 / 0.6 / 6

3 / 3 / 2.5 / 2.5

15 / 11 / 11 / 11

0.9 / 1.2 / 1.7 / 5.5

6 / 3 / 3 / 3

permanent magnet

n/a AC (2) / n/a AC (3) / n/a AC (3) / n/a AC (3)

2

aluminium / aluminium / steel / steel

685 / 1,300 / 2,300 / 14,000

www.ampair.com

Bergey Windpower, USA

Excel-S / Excel-R / XL.1

1983 / 1983 / 2000

approx. 100 countries

~1,200 / ~600 / ~4,000

18-43 / 18-43 / 18-30

10 / 7.5 / 1

2.2 / 4 / 3.2

12 / 11 / 12

7 / 7 / 2.4

3 permanent magnet220-240 AC (n/a) / 24, 48 or 240 DC / 24 or 48 DC

10 / 10 / 5

steel, galvanised21,850 / 18,350 / 2,070

www.bergey.com

Braun Windturbinen GmbH, Germany

Antaris 1700 / 3500 / 5000

1992 / 2003 / 2008

EU150 / 200 / 30

15 / 15 / 20

1.7 / 3.5 / 5

2.8 / 2.5 / 2.0

123 / 3.5 / 4.4

3 permanent magnet 400 AC (3) 2 steel tube on request www.braun-windturbinen.com

Cyclone Wind Generators, Canada, China

800 W / 1.6 kW / 3.2 kW / 4.8 kW / 14.5 kW

n/aCanada, USA, Europe

n/a n/a

0.8 / 1.6 / 3.2 / 4.8 / 14.5

2-3 / 2.5-3.5 / 2.5-3.5 / 2.5-3.5 / 2.5-3.5

16-18 / 16-18 / 16-18 / 16-18 / 16-18

2.4 / 2.8 / 4.0 / 5.0 / 8.0

3 permanent magnet

12, 24, 48 AC (3) / 12, 24, 48, 250, 380 AC (3) / 48, 250, 380 AC (3) / 48, 250, 380 AC (3) / 48, 250, 380 AC (3)

5 n/a

2,200/ 3,100-3,500 / 6,570 / 8,500 / 34,000

www.cyclonewindgenerators.com

Dongguan C&G Wind Power Co. Ltd, China

400 W / 600 W / 1,000 W / 3,000 W

2005

China, Europe, America, Austra-lia, South Africa, Middle East

n/a 8, 10 or 12

0.4 / 0.6 / 1 / 3

2.8 / 2.8 / 3 / 3.5

12.3 / 12.4 / 12.5 / 12.5

2 / 2.2 / 2.6 / 4.5

3 permanent magnet

12 or 24 DC / 12 or 24 DC / 24 or 48 DC / 110 DC

3 lattice mast

516 / 568 / 823 / 2,887

www.cgwindpower.com

EasyWind GmbH, Germany

EasyWind 6 AC / DC n/a worldwide n/a 7, 13, 19 6 / 7.5 3 10.6 / 11.5 6 4asynchronous, pole-changeable / asynchronous

400 AC (3) / 120 DC (3)

n/a guyed tubular mast on request www.easywind.org

Eclectic Energy Ltd., Great Britain

D400 horizontal axis direct drive

2005 worldwide 2,000+ variable 0.24 2.6 11 1.1 5 permanent magnet n/a 2 steel tube 1,050 www.eclectic-energy.com

Fortis Wind Energy, Netherlands

Passaat / Montana / Alize

1985 / 1988 / 1992

worldwide1,400 / 1,600 / 160

12-241.4 / 5 / 10

2.516 / 17 / 13

3.12 / 5 / 7

3 / 4 / 5

permanent magnet24 or 48 AC (6) / 48 or 240 AC (9) / 120 or 240 AC (9)

5 guyed, detached on request www.fortiswindenergy.com

Gazelle Wind Turbines Ltd., Great Britain

Gazelle 1998 Great Britain 2413, 14.6 or 20.6

20 4.5 12.5 11 3 n/a 400 AC (3) 1 steel tube n/a www.mkw.co.uk

Green Energy Technologies, USA

WindCube 2008 USA 1 roof installation 60 2.2 12 4.6 5 asynchronous, direct drive 480 AC (3) 1steel mast, roof-mounted

189,282 *) www.getsmartenergy.com

Heyde Windtechnik, Germany

Antaris 2,5 KS / 2,5 KS LV / 3,5 KS / 3,5 KS LV / 5,0 KS

2005 / 2005 / 2007 / 2007 / 2009

Europe

55 / 12 / 80 / 15 / 25

8-12

2.5 / 2.5 / 3.5 / 3.5 / 5

3 11

3 / 3 / 3.5 / 3.5 / 4.2

3 permanent magnet

400 AC (3) / 48 AC (3) / 400 AC (3) / 48 AC (3) / 400 AC (3)

2 lattice or tubular mast

approx. 6,175 / approx. 6,295 / approx. 6,650 / approx. 6,770 / approx. 9,400

www.heyde-windtechnik.de

Landmark Power Concepts GmbH, Germany (manufacturer from Spain and the USA)

Inclin 250 / 600 / 1500 neo / 3000 neo / 6000 neo / BWC Excel-R /-S

n/a worldwide n/a various

0.25 / 0.6 / 1.5 / 3 / 6 / 7.5 / 10

3 / 3.5 / 3.5 / 3.5 / 3.5 / 3.4 / 3.4

11 / 11 / 12 / 12 / 12 / 13.4 / 16

1.4 / 2 / 2.7 / 3.7 / 3.7 / 7 / 7

2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 3 / 3 / 3

permanent magnet n/a

2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 5 / 5

lattice or tubular mast n/a www.landmark-power.com

Mariah Power, USA

1.2 kW Windspire 2008USA, France, Denmark, Costa Rica

350 3 1.2 3.6 11.2 1.2 3 permanent magnet 35 AC (3) 5 steel tube 7,000-9,000 www.mariahpower.com

PSW-Energiesysteme, Germany

EN-Drive 2010 EU -7.2 / 10.2

10.5 2.2 12.5 6.2 3 various400 AC (3) / 230 n/a (1) / 48 DC (optional)

2 conical steel mastfrom 25,000 upwards

www.psw-energiesysteme.com

Sirena GmbH, Germany

Aerocatcher SimPlex 500 / WinPlex 2500 / WinPlex 5500 / aero 3000

2008 / 2009 / 2009 / 2010

Germany n/avarious / 9 / 12 / various

0.5 / 2.5 / 5.5 / 3

2.5 / 2.5 / 2.5 / 3.8

12 / 12 / 12 / 14

2 / 3.2 / 6.4 / 2 (at 4.5 m)

3, 4, 6 / 3, 4, 6 / 3, 4, 6 / 3

permanent magnet40 DC / 230 AC (3) / 230 AC (3) / 240 AC (3) /

2 steel tube

795 / 4,995 / 9,110 / 8,855

www.aerocatcher.de

Solar-Wind-Team GmbH, Germany

FLIP 150 / 500

2004 / 2008

worldwiden/a / 50

n/a0.15 / 0.5

1.8 / 2.8

131.1 / 1.6

3 permanent magnet12, 24 AC (3) / 48 AC (3)

2 n/a900 / 1,800

www.wind-mobil.de

Southwest Windpower, USA

Air Breeze / Whisper 100 / Whisper 200 / Skystream 3.7 / Whisper 500

1996 / 1996 / 1996 / 2006 / 1996

worldwide

12,000 / 8,000 / 8,000 / 6,000 / 3,000

n/a

0.16 / 0.9 / 1 / 2.4 / 3

2.68 / 3.4 / 3.1 / 3.5 / 3.4

12.5 / 12.5 / 11.6 / 13 / 10.5

1.17 / 2.1 / 2.7 / 3.72 / 4.5

3 permanent magnet

12, 24, 36, 48 DC / 12, 24, 36, 48 DC / 12, 24, 36, 48 DC / 230 V AC (n/a) - 120 AC (n/a) / 12, 24, 36, 48 DC

3 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5

optional / optional / optional / steel, galvanised / optional

800 (turbine) / 1,720 (turbine) / 2,078 (turbine) / 16,500 (complete) / 5,384 (turbine)

www.airbreeze.com; www.windenergy.com; www.skystreamenergy.com

Superwind GmbH, Germany

SW 350 2004 worldwide n/adepends on mast

0.35 3.5 12.5 1.2 3 permanent magnet 12, 24, 48 DC 3 n/a 1,490 www.superwind.com

S&W Energiesysteme, Germany

S&W 3.0 / S&W 20.0

2009 / 2010

Germany7 / 2

12 / 24

3 / 20

2.511.9 / 11.5

3.56 / 8.9

3 asynchronous 400 AC (3) 8 guyed tubular mast6,300 / 26,300

www.s-und-w-energie.de

Taos Wind Energy, China

Taos 600 / 1000 / 2000

2006 8 countries100 / 400 / 300

8 / 8 / 10

0.6 / 1 / 2

2.6 121.8 / 2 / 2.8

3 permanent magnet24, 100 AC (3) / 24, 200 AC (3) / 48, 300 AC (3)

3 as requested n/a www.taoswind.com

Wind EnErgy


small Wind turbinEs




Sold units




Rotor diameter [m]

Number of blades


Warranty [years] Tower constructionNoncommittal gross final customer price [¤]

Website

TechnoSpin, USA

ComSpin S1 / ComSpin S2 / PowerSpin TSW 2000 / ComSpin TSW 2000 / PowerSpin TSW 2200 / ComSpin TSW 2200 / PowerSpin TSW 4000 / ComSpin TSW 4000

2008 / 2009 / 2006 / 2006 / 2008 / 2008 / 2009 / 2009

n/a n/a n/a

0.01-0.05 / 0.025-0.2 / 2 / 2 / 2.2 / 2.2 / 4 / 4

3.5 / 2.5 / 2.5 / 2.5 / 2.5 / 2.5 / 2.5 / 2.5

n/a / n/a / 12 / 12 / 11 / 11 / 12 / 12

1.16 / 1.7 / 3 / 3 / 3.5 / 3.5 / 4.2 / 4.2

2 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3

ComSpin S1: direct current / others: permanent magnet

n/a 5 n/a n/a www.tswind.com

Unitron Energy, India

UE 6 / UE 15 / UE 15plus / UE 33 / UE 42 / UE 42plus

2001 / 2003 / 2006 / 2002 / 2004 / 2007

India EU, Africa, USA, Far East

1,100 / 375 / 300 / 650 / 300 / 100

12-15 / 15-18 / 15-18 / 18-20 / 18-24 / 18-24

0.65 / 1.5 / 1.8 / 3.3 / 4.2 / 4.8

2.6 / 2.6 / 2.6 / 2.6 / 2.7 / 2.7

10.5 / 10.5 / 10.5 / 10.5 / 11 / 11

2.2 / 3.2 / 3.4 / 4.65 / 4.9 / 5.2

3 / 3 / 3 / 2 or 3 / 3 / 3

permanent magnet

12-48 AC (3) / 12-200 AC (3) / 12-200 AC (3) / 48-240 AC (3) / 48-240 AC (3) / 48-240 AC (3) / 48-240 AC (3)

2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / n/a

lattice or tubular mast

692 *) / 1,560 *) / 1,805 *) / 4,003 *) / 5,054 *) / 5,767 *)

www.unitronenergy.com

Urban Green Energy, USA

2nd generation verti-cal axis wind turbines

2009 worldwide n/a various03 / 1 / 4

3.3 121.5 x 12 / 2.35 x 1.7 / 4.2 x 2.75

3 permanent magnet (n/a) AC (3) 1-5 steel

3,800 (complete), 2,200 (turbine) / 7,600 (complete), 4,400 (turbine) / 15,400 (complete), 11,600 (turbine)

www.urbangreenenergy.com

Vaigunth Ener Tek (p) Ltd., India

AR 500 / AR 1000 / AR 5000 / AR 30000

n/a n/a n/a

8 / 12 / 15 / 25

0.55 / 1.2 / 5.2 / 33

3

9.3 / 9 / 92 / 10.3

3 / 4 / 6.8 / 13.5

n/a

permanent magnet / permanent magnet / permanent magnet / induction

60 DC (n/a) / 110, 230 AC / 110, 230 AC / 440 DC (3)

n/a

guyed / guyed / lattice mast or guyed / lattice mast or guyed

n/a www.v-enertek.com

Windtechnik Geiger GmbH, Germany

SG 280 / SG 500

n/a n/a n/a n/a1.5 / 5

1.7 / ca. 2.5

12 / 13

2.88 / 5.54

3 / 3

permanent magnet / three-phase permanent magnet

12-24, 24-48, 30-60 / changeable from 50 to 100 or from 100 to 200

n/a n/a n/a www.windtechnik-geiger.de

*) prices in US$ converted into ¤, currency exchange rate as of 17th September, 2009: 1 US$ = 0.678 ¤Source: manufacturers’ information, all data and prices without guarantee

Market overview: Small wind turbines

The Antaris 3.5 produced by the German Braun Windturbinen GmbH is being prepared for installation at a mobile telephone mast in Portugal.

Photo: Braun Windturbinen


for instance, turbine operators only receive a subsidy if the turbine is certified. And in the USA two pro-grammes are drawing up voluntary certification guidelines, which, however, may soon be required by the grid operators in some states.

A look at the companies’ market position

According to data from the American Wind Energy As-sociation (AWEA), there are at least 219 manufactur-ers of small wind turbines around the world. The com-panies with the longest tradition were founded in the 1970s. The oldest is Bornay Wind Turbines from Spain, founded in 1970. Next to the Dutch Fortis (founded in 1978) and the US company Southwest Windpower (founded in 1987), it is today among the leading providers worldwide. The US company Bergey Windpower (founded in 1977) belongs to this group, too. From the 70s to the 90s further wind turbine pro-viders surfaced on the market and since the turn of the millennium, companies have been founded more and more rapidly, making the market less manageable.

Two companies founded more recently have drawn special attention to themselves due to their high am-bitions: the first, Urban Green Energy, founded in the USA in 2007, did not present any sales figures for 2008 but was still planning on selling generators at a total capacity of 1,000 kW as early as 2009. This would put the New York producer directly in fourth place in the current survey after Bergey Windpower, Fortis Wind Energy and Mariah Power from the USA, also a

new entry. The second, Mariah Power from Reno, Nevada, produced a mere 120 kW in 2008, but claims to be planning as much as 1,080 kW for 2009. This great leap forward is to be achieved by means of the Windspire, a vertical axis turbine which will be on offer in various performance categories.

With the exception of Landmark Power Concepts in Halle an der Saale (Germany) and Green Energy Technologies in Akron, Ohio (USA), all of the surveyed companies have their own production. Noteworthy is the cooperation between Braun Windturbinen GmbH and Heyde Windtechnik, both located in Germany. Both are considered to be the manufacturer of the Antaris system – Heyde supplies the GRP components




Sold units




Rotor diameter [m]

Number of blades


Warranty [years] Tower constructionNoncommittal gross final customer price [¤]

Website

TechnoSpin, USA

ComSpin S1 / ComSpin S2 / PowerSpin TSW 2000 / ComSpin TSW 2000 / PowerSpin TSW 2200 / ComSpin TSW 2200 / PowerSpin TSW 4000 / ComSpin TSW 4000

2008 / 2009 / 2006 / 2006 / 2008 / 2008 / 2009 / 2009

n/a n/a n/a

0.01-0.05 / 0.025-0.2 / 2 / 2 / 2.2 / 2.2 / 4 / 4

3.5 / 2.5 / 2.5 / 2.5 / 2.5 / 2.5 / 2.5 / 2.5

n/a / n/a / 12 / 12 / 11 / 11 / 12 / 12

1.16 / 1.7 / 3 / 3 / 3.5 / 3.5 / 4.2 / 4.2

2 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3

ComSpin S1: direct current / others: permanent magnet

n/a 5 n/a n/a www.tswind.com

Unitron Energy, India

UE 6 / UE 15 / UE 15plus / UE 33 / UE 42 / UE 42plus

2001 / 2003 / 2006 / 2002 / 2004 / 2007

India EU, Africa, USA, Far East

1,100 / 375 / 300 / 650 / 300 / 100

12-15 / 15-18 / 15-18 / 18-20 / 18-24 / 18-24

0.65 / 1.5 / 1.8 / 3.3 / 4.2 / 4.8

2.6 / 2.6 / 2.6 / 2.6 / 2.7 / 2.7

10.5 / 10.5 / 10.5 / 10.5 / 11 / 11

2.2 / 3.2 / 3.4 / 4.65 / 4.9 / 5.2

3 / 3 / 3 / 2 or 3 / 3 / 3

permanent magnet

12-48 AC (3) / 12-200 AC (3) / 12-200 AC (3) / 48-240 AC (3) / 48-240 AC (3) / 48-240 AC (3) / 48-240 AC (3)

2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / n/a

lattice or tubular mast

692 *) / 1,560 *) / 1,805 *) / 4,003 *) / 5,054 *) / 5,767 *)

www.unitronenergy.com

Urban Green Energy, USA

2nd generation verti-cal axis wind turbines

2009 worldwide n/a various03 / 1 / 4

3.3 121.5 x 12 / 2.35 x 1.7 / 4.2 x 2.75

3 permanent magnet (n/a) AC (3) 1-5 steel

3,800 (complete), 2,200 (turbine) / 7,600 (complete), 4,400 (turbine) / 15,400 (complete), 11,600 (turbine)

www.urbangreenenergy.com

Vaigunth Ener Tek (p) Ltd., India

AR 500 / AR 1000 / AR 5000 / AR 30000

n/a n/a n/a

8 / 12 / 15 / 25

0.55 / 1.2 / 5.2 / 33

3

9.3 / 9 / 92 / 10.3

3 / 4 / 6.8 / 13.5

n/a

permanent magnet / permanent magnet / permanent magnet / induction

60 DC (n/a) / 110, 230 AC / 110, 230 AC / 440 DC (3)

n/a

guyed / guyed / lattice mast or guyed / lattice mast or guyed

n/a www.v-enertek.com

Windtechnik Geiger GmbH, Germany

SG 280 / SG 500

n/a n/a n/a n/a1.5 / 5

1.7 / ca. 2.5

12 / 13

2.88 / 5.54

3 / 3

permanent magnet / three-phase permanent magnet

12-24, 24-48, 30-60 / changeable from 50 to 100 or from 100 to 200

n/a n/a n/a www.windtechnik-geiger.de

*) prices in US$ converted into ¤, currency exchange rate as of 17th September, 2009: 1 US$ = 0.678 ¤Source: manufacturers’ information, all data and prices without guarantee

Specialists for rotor bladerepair & service

BS Rotor Technic GmbH & Co. KGHasenkamp 137589 SebexenTel.: +49 (0) 55 53 / 99 41 80Fax.: +49 (0) 55 53 / 99 41 86E-Mail: [email protected]: www.bs-rotor.de

Wind EnErgy


small Wind turbinEs

such as rotor blades and nacelle casing and Braun supplies the generators and the remaining parts.

Most manufacturers have their main sales mar-kets in Europe, North and South America and Asia; more seldom in Australia or New Zealand. Different target regions are presumed to be a consequence of the proximity to the production facility. Only Bergey Windpower and the Indian company Unitron Energy Systems Pvt. Ltd. report selling to the African market. The New York firm TechnoSpin Inc. predicts a future market in Africa.

New products in large quantities – a selection

Almost every manufacturer has announced new prod-ucts for 2009 or 2010. Aircon GmbH & Co. KG in Ger-many, for instance, is planning to market the Aircon 30S (30 kW). Ampair from Great Britain launched its new Ampair 6000 (6 kW) in April 2009. The US manu-facturer Bergey Windpower aims to start production of its 5 kW turbine XL.5 in spring this year. The suc-cessful Antaris series from the companies Braun and Heyde is also growing: while Heyde launched a 5 kW turbine in May 2009, Braun has announced the intro-duction of a 10 kW turbine in September. This turbine is to enable a self-sufficient power supply during grid-parallel operation and heating operation for a domes-tic water storage tank.

Big plans come from the Far East: G&G Wind Power from Hangzhou City, China, announced new wind generators with a performance of 0.3, 0.5, and 5 kW for December 2009. Beside SWTs, the 200 em-ployee company also produces street lighting pow-ered by photovoltaics or wind power. At 20 kW, the company’s SWT production was still quite manage-able in 2008. However, the company aims to become world market leader in SWTs, hoping to gain impor-tant market shares by implementing “German tech-nology, made in China”. Time will tell to what extent competitors ought to be worried.

New developments have been announced from elsewhere: The German company PSW-Energie-systeme intends to present the new type EN-Drive

(10.5 kW) this year. Prospective buyers of the new 1 kW turbine from Superwind GmbH, also from Ger-many, will have to wait until the end of the year. S&W Energiesysteme, Germany, is planning to start selling its 20 kW turbine S&W 20.0 early this year. The mod-el is to be extremely robust and equipped with two in-dependent aerodynamic safety systems. The installa-tion costs are less than ¤ 1,500 per kW, stated Man-aging Director Wolfgang Hahn. TechnoSpin Inc. from New York aims to put its 8 kW turbines PowerSpin TSW 8000 and ComSpin C 8000 on the market in the first quarter of 2010.

Producers of vertical axis turbines have also made an array of new products available to their customers: Sirena GmbH from Germany has announced its model aero 3000 (3 kW) for January. And the New Yorkers Urban Green Energy again take it one step further with its 2nd Gen VAWT Product Line: turbines with 300 W, 1 kW, 4 kW and 10 kW are to complete their product range. The rotors, partially integrated in street lamps, are especially appealing to the eye and are reported to operate almost silently.

Business trends – warnings about unreliable suppliers

What the surveyed companies had to say allows us to sum up the following trends: SWTs are experiencing a steadily increasing demand worldwide – in the USA they speak of strong growth, some even of rapid growth. Moreover, the demand for urban solutions as well as for turbines with a higher output is on the rise.

The SWT sector is faced with great challenges: on the one hand it is important to set quality standards in order for e.g. output curves to be compared, on the other hand to put a stop to unreliable suppliers. If you are to believe some of the Internet forums, finishing and service are increasingly becoming grounds for complaints. Martin Frey

Sources:AWEA Small Wind Turbine Global Market Study 2009www.awea.org/smallwind/pdf/09_AWEA_Small_Wind_Global_ Market_Study.pdf

Small Wind Systems. UK Market Report 2009, BWEAwww.bwea.com/pdf/small/BWEA%20SWS%20UK%20Market%20Report%202009.pdf

Divine assistance: an SWT produced by the South German firm Solar-Wind-Team GmbH next to a church in Ecuador.

Photo: Solar-Wind-Team

Events in 2010:AWEA “Small and Community Wind Conference & Exhibition”7 – 9 December, Portland, Oregon, USAwww.smallandcommunitywindexpo.org

“New Energy Husum” (trade fair with main focus on SWTs)18 – 21 March, Husum, Germany www.new-energy.de

BWEA “International Small Wind Conference 2010”27 – 28 April, Glasgow, UKwww.iswc2010.com

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