Here are 4 diversified project case studies illustrating how small wind systems can make a difference.

Small Wind Case Studies

Contributed by | Southwest Windpower

Wind-solar hybrid powers São Paulo telecom tower

AIR Breeze and solar panels generate 100% of power needs for a telecom transmission tower.

Customer

Skynet Telecomunicações, LTDA is an Internet Service Provider (ISP) based in Cajuru, São Paulo, Brazil.
 

Objectives

  • Provide reliable, continuous off-grid power
  • No grid reliance
  • Clean power generation
 

Project Requirements

  • Clean energy to power a battery bank autonomously
  • Meet daily energy demands of the site: 6,000 watt hours per day
 

Site Details

  • Average annual wind speed: 3.5-5.0 m/s (8-11 mph)1
  • Average solar insolation: 4.5-5 kWh/m2/day2
  • Location: -21.279777,-47.171574
  • Install date: May 2012
 

Solution

  • One AIR Breeze, mounted on top of PV array
  • Three 125-watt solar panels
  • Eight 12-volt 100 Ah batteries
  • Turbine provides clean, ready-to-use DC power (no external inverter or controller required)
  • Easy installation
  • Energy system cost: $13,000 (turbine, solar PV, electrical post, cables, steel brackets, crane mounting, batteries, regulators, control panel, etc.)
 

Benefits

  • Hybrid system allows for battery-charging off-grid stability
  • Provides stable operation of off-grid telecom site
  • Independent from utility connection
  • Meets daily on site energy demand Partners
  • Energia Pura
  • City of Cássia dos Coqueiros, state of São Paulo

Jefferson County, Colorado wind-solar parking lot light lights

High visibility wind-solar hybrid parking lot lights provide safety lighting and reduce electric costs.

 

Customer

Jefferson County, Colo., the fourth most populated county in Colorado, is located along the Front Range of the Denver metro area. The county campus houses county administrative buildings, courts and a detention center. Lighting was required for a new overflow parking lot at the detention center.


Objectives

  • Reduce overall campus electricity consumption
  • Provide safety lighting to a 150-car parking lot
  • Demonstrate renewable energy technologies


Project Requirements

  • Less costly solution than running electric lines to the site
  • Adequate light output to meet safety requirements


Site Details

  • Location: 39.730583,-105.202022
  • Average annual wind speed: 4.5m/s (10 mph)*
  • Average solar insolation: 4.5 kWh/m2/day*
 

Solution

  • Nine 12V AIR Breeze units, 5.5 m (18 ft) steel light poles
  • Nine 170-230 watt PV panels
  • 35 watt high-efficiency LED lights
  • Aesthetically pleasing, integrated design
  • Turbines provide clean, ready-to-use AC power (no external inverter or controller required)
  • “Behind the meter” connection reduces campus’ utility energy costs
 

Benefits

  • Saved $22,000 to install vs. grid-powered lights
  • Zero utility costs
  • Provides light for safety; 100% up-time
  • Public demonstration of wind and solar
 

Partners

  • Next Generation Energy
  • McKinstry

Criosfera 1: Powering through the Antarctic winter

Powering critical data acquisition and transmission from the world’s most extreme environment.

 
 

Customer

The National Institute for Space Research (INPE) of Brazil manages the country’s climate research and space programs. The Criosfera 1 research station autonomously monitors weather data from Antarctica for research about pollution’s impact on climate change.
 

Objectives

  • Provide an autonomous low-power system for year-round data collection and transmission
 

Project Requirements

  • Continuous operation in extreme cold and wind with extended periods of darkness
  • Harsh and distant location requires an absolutely maintenance-free energy system to meet the station’s load requirement of 1,900 Wh/day
 

Site Details

  • Location: -83.999787,-79.494338
  • Install date: January 2012
 

Solution

  • Four AIR Breeze 24 V turbines, pole mounted
  • Four 175 W PV panels, side mounted
  • Eight deep cycle batteries
 

Benefits

  • Reliable, maintenance-free operation
  • Continuous data monitoring and transmission
  • Eliminates fuel dependence, zero emissions
 

Partner

  • Energia Pura

 

Hybrid system ensures broadband services in Ireland

AIR 30, solar panels offset high utility costs and secure broadband connection in County Kerry, Ireland.

 

Customer

Tralee, Ireland-based Kerry Broadband Ltd. is an Internet and phone provider (ISP). The company brings broadband
solutions to rural communities in Kerry County.
 

Objectives

  • Renewable system must be self-reliant with controls to prevent damage
  • No grid dependence, entirely eliminate utility costs
  • Plug and play equipment for simple installation
 

Project Requirements

  • Redundant, reliable off-grid power to connect over 1,000 customers with wireless broadband
  • Meet daily energy demands of the site
 

Site Details

  • Average annual wind speed: 15.3 m/s (34 mph)
  • Average solar insolation: 1,000-1,200 kWh/m2/year1
  • Location: 52.181669,-9.981694
  • Install date: March 2010
 

Solution

  • One AIR 30, mounted on top of a two-inch steel pipe attached to a 10 m (33 ft) tower
  • Two 200 watt solar panels for backup
  • Three 1,800 Ah deep cycle 24 volt batteries
  • Turbine provides clean, ready-to-use DC power (no external inverter or controller required)
  • Easy installation
  • Project cost: approximately $4,900 (turbine, solar panels, and batteries)
 

Benefits

  • Hybrid system allows for battery-charging off-grid stability
  • Power supply for a wireless broadband repeater
  • Independent from utility connection
  • Meets daily on site demand of 2,000 watt hours per day
 

Partners

  • Smart Telecom Ltd (National Backhaul Provider)

 

The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of AltEnergyMag

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