Wind Wire Has a New Home!

In order to better serve our readers we have decided to move our blog to a new home: http://windwire.wordpress.com

This blog will no longer be updated, head over to the new & improved Wind Wire to continue the conversation!

10 Things About...Yinka, Sales

The "10 Things About" posts are designed to better acquaint you with the WECC team.

1. Where were you born?

West Lafayette, Indiana

2. Interesting thing about you that most people don’t know.

I played the tuba in my middle school band...

3. Favorite color?

Grassy green...that's a color right?

4. Favorite book?

1)One Hundred Years of Solitude and 2)Johny Got His Gun

5. Favorite food?

Nutella makes everything better. It's science.

6. Least favorite food?

Eating lima beans should be considered as penance for our sins.

7. Proudest moment?

Graduating from the University of Florida

8. What's your full name?

Olayinka Ayinde Modupe-ore Olusola Mustapha (now say it 5x fast!)

9. Right or left handed?

Righty all the way. I probably can't even high-five with my left-hand

10. Best WECC related memory?

Being told by a wind naysayer that, "Wind energy was hocus-pocus"

10 Things About...Greg, Business Development

The "10 Things About" posts are designed to better acquaint you with the WECC team.

1. Share something interesting about you that most people don't know.

Grew up and spent a total of 20 years in Asia (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines, Burma, China, Japan).

2. What did you want to be when you grew up?

A Major League Baseball Player.

3. Do you have any pets?

Duke, a 14 month Golden Retriever.

4. How did you get interested in wind energy?

I've been interested in the environment since my days at Duke U and my Civil & Environmental Engineering.

5. Do you have an interesting hobby?

Golf, softball, reading

6. List your favorite sports teams.

Duke Blue Devils, Indianapolis Colts, Boston Red Sox

7. Where were you born?

Berlin, Germany

8. How many countries have 

you visited?

More than 40.

9. Favorite books?

The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

10. Favorite color?

Blue

Social Media & Wind Energy

When the marketing team at Wind Energy Consulting & Contracting, Inc. (WECC) began to explore creating a social media strategy, we noticed some similarities between wind energy and social media.

Like wind energy, use of social media is not appropriate for everyone. Like wind energy, social media requires long term planning and strategy. Like wind energy, social media is not always orchestrated correctly, leading some to doubt its effectiveness.

As we investigated the current wind energy presence in the blogosphere, twittersphere and the magical world of Facebook, we became impressed with the amount and quality of activity within these social networks. There are multiple outlets focused on activism, education and mobilization. As consultants, it was important for us to educate – but for our strategy to be effective, we needed to find a niche to fill.

Finding our niche was as simple as talking to our clients. If you’ll allow us a moment to toot our own horn, we are very good at what we do. Our clients appreciate our expertise but they also appreciate the relationships that we form with them. It is that “personal touch” that truly sets us apart – and so our strategy was born.

We want people to know who we are and what we believe in. We want people to interact with us, ask us questions and share their hopes for the future. We want to help empower people who see wind energy projects as a way to save their family owned farms, generate income for their schools, and cut costs for their home or business. We even hope to put a smile on your face with The Adventures of Windy & Watt.

We continue to see the good that wind energy offers when implemented properly and we want to pay it forward. You may not read the tweets from @WECC_Energy and walk away with a wind energy degree but we promise to make you smile and make you think.

Connect With WECC:

Wind Energy Consulting & Contracting, Inc. (WECC)

Follow The Adventures of Windy & Watt

10 Things About...Brian, Finance

The "10 Things About" posts are designed to better acquaint you with the WECC team.

1. Where were you born?

Fort Wayne, Indiana.

2. How many countries have you visited?

Seven.

3. List your favorite sports teams.

Florida Gators, Purdue Boilermakers, New Jersey Devils, Chicago Cubs

4. What did you want to be when you grew up?

A chef or a pilot.

5. What is your least favorite food?

Mushrooms, blegh.

6. What is your best WECC related memory?

Having coffee every morning with my father.

7. Do you have any pets?

One fantastic dog, Indy.

8. Do you have an interesting hobby?

I’m not sure golf counts as all that interesting but some of the pants I wear on the course probably qualify…

9. What is your favorite animal?

The Yak.

10. Name the one place that you've always wanted to visit.

Moscow.

Clean, Green, Cycling Machine - Matt's Story

WECC is home to a couple of cycling enthusiasts (it must be something about the wind in their hair) and to celebrate Earth Day we’re profiling WECC employee Matt Nipper’s green transportation habit.

Matt, our wind engineer, rides his bike to and from work. The trip is about 10 miles each way and is a chance for him to enjoy being outdoors in beautiful Jacksonville, Florida.

Like many of us, Matt learned to ride a bike at a young age and always enjoyed riding as a recreational activity. It wasn’t until years later that he started to use his bike for transportation purposes. During his final year at Georgia Tech he purchased a bicycle in order to get more quickly from point A to point B – and he was hooked.

After his graduation from Georgia Tech, Matt was accepted to The Technical University of Denmark to pursue his Masters in Wind Energy. As anyone who has visited Denmark knows, it is a country that is famously bike friendly.

Living in Copenhagen, Matt did as most residents do, riding his ordinary bike to school (or work) in regular clothes. Upon completion of the program and his return to the states, Matt kept his cycling habit alive by integrating it into his daily routine.

Just another way that WECC is helping the REgeneration to grow.

Matt & his bike at the office.

Happy Earth Day!

Generation X, Y, Z…where do we go from here?

Be a part of the REgeneration.

REthink.

REpower.

REnew.

This Earth Day, make it a point to learn about renewable energy and share what you’ve learned with a friend. For interesting stories and updates about wind energy, follow us on twitter!

10 Things About...Mandi, Marketing

The "10 Things About" posts are designed to better acquaint you with the WECC team.

1. My favorite childhood memories come from the summers that I spent in the mountains of Upstate New York and Pennsylvania, covered in dirt and leaves and loving every second of it.
2. If I had to choose one "favorite" thing about working at WECC, it would be the people that I interact with each day. I am constantly being inspired by the people around me.
3. I would move to Manhattan just for the food - specifically: Bagels, bakery, deli and pizza.
4. I am fascinated by science and history.
5. My favorite color is charcoal grey.
6. My least favorite color is orange...a terrible thing for a Gator grad to say, I know!
7. My favorite drink is tea - hot or cold.
8. I have an Australian Cattle Dog named Emma. She spent a confusing couple of months convinced that she was a cat.
9. My favorite thing about the wind energy industry is the way that wind energy projects are being used to revitalize entire communities. It is inspiring!
10. My understanding of evolution at seven years old led me to believe that the lizards I saw walking on two feet meant that by the time I was ten, there would be T-Rex's in my backyard.

Top 6 Tips to Choosing the Right Small Wind Turbine

The previously unregulated small wind market takes one step for small turbines, one giant leap for the industry with the announcement of four National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) certified small wind testing sites. (Disclosure: WECC worked with the Kansas State University team on one of the approved site proposals.)

The shift to a regulated market represents a victory for consumers who will now be able to easily verify the claims made by manufacturers of small wind turbines. Small wind turbines are any turbine that is less than 100 KW. These smaller systems represent a rapidly growing portion of the overall wind turbine generator (WTG) market, especially in the United States.

Testing of the turbines has yet to begin and the tests are expected to take at least a year for the initial WTGs selected. The stimulus package’s Federal ITC Grant provides for up to 30% of the cost of the project back in cash and is set to expire at the end of this year, before any WTGs are certified.

How can consumers be sure that they’re making an informed decision when choosing a WTG in the interim? Here are 6 tips to help you get your money’s worth.

1. Read the fine print.

A manufacturer may claim that their turbine produces 5 kW of electricity…in 25 mph sustained winds or more…how realistic is this?

2. Do your research.

What are people saying about the product online? Do you see multiple stories about products malfunctioning and not performing up to expectations?

3. Speak to a former customer.

Ask the manufacturer to connect you with a former customer who would be willing to talk to you about their experience. If they’re not willing to do it, it could be a warning sign.

4. Discuss warranties and servicing options.

Reputable manufacturers will warrant their systems from 2 to 5 years and will fully support.

5. Know your wind speeds.

A great turbine won’t produce any electricity if you don’t have adequate wind. NREL’s wind resource map is a great starting point. NREL Wind Map of America

6. Get a Free WindSight Assessment.

WECC’s wind engineering team has vetted a list of wind turbines and can make recommendations specific to your location and energy usage. Remove the guesswork and a free assessment today at www.FromBeginningToWind.com

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Wind Power Does Not Impact Residential Property Value

Yesterday the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory released a new report: "The Impact of Wind Power Projects on Residential Property Values in the United States: A Multi-Site Hedonic Analysis." The full report is available for download at http://eetd.lbl.gov/ea/ems/re-pubs.html - and associative Power Point presentation is available for download at http://eetd.lbl.gov/ea/ems/emp-ppt.html.

With a view toward addressing community concerns regarding the growth of the U.S. wind industry, the report authors and researchers collected data on approximately 7,500 homes sales within 10 miles of 24 existing wind facilities in 9 states. Using 8 different hedonic pricing models, as well as repeat sales and sales volume models, the research determined that statistically there is no widespread negative impact on the sales of residential properties that are located near wind facilities. Please review the full report for a complete analysis and summation.

Information on Small Wind

WECC recently launched a small wind information site to assist consumers and businesses by providing information on the benefits of a small wind solution, help determine if a small wind system is right for you, and with providing guidance on implementation. Siting, understanding interconnection with your utility and turbine selection are critical factors to understand; although there are many additional factors to consider. Especially with turbine selection, since there currently is no true certification system for small wind turbine generators, the buyer is at the mercy of claims by the turbine manufacturer. Although this soon changing in North America.

The Small Wind Certification Counsel now exists and will begin to accept applications from wind turbine generator manufacturers in early 2010. In fact, at next week's AWEA Small & Community Wind Conference and Exhibition in Detroit, the SWCC with submit and approve plans that will be utilized to certify wind turbines to the AWEA Small Wind Turbine Performance and Safety Standard. This is a significant step toward protecting consumers and improving industry credibility and performance.

WECC offers a FREE WindSight initial wind assessment with no obligation. Upon submitting basic information into a simple online form regarding your site and electric usage, a report will provide prepared by a WECC Wind Technician. The report will be sent to you that informs of the wind regime at your location, an initial siting assessment and a recommendation on the turbine size (if good wind exists) to help you get started with the decision process. Give it a try!

The Aesthetic Excuse

Americans have long been known for our obsession with appearances. Our collective beauty obsession and the pursuit of perfection have spawned multiple magazines, miracle creams and, no doubt, trips to the therapist’s office.

You may be wondering why I’m discussing the American aesthetic on a blog about wind energy. Did you know that there is a movement against wind energy based almost entirely on the aesthetics of wind turbines?

Perhaps it’s just me but I cannot find a single aesthetically pleasing thing about a power plant. I’ll admit, my opinion may be unfairly influenced by the ever present aroma of chemical pollutants or the surprising sting of smog as it hits my eyes – but I just don’t get it. I cannot find any logic to the argument that since some people in our country don’t like the way that turbines look, we’re going to continue poisoning ourselves by building more of what is apparently seen as the more attractive option – the conventional power plant.

I’ve included some photos for comparison:

Feel free to tell me how crazy I am for not finding the smoke spewing, pollutant belching power plant more aesthetically pleasing than a wind farm.

Wind turbines, some of which are designed to be no taller than a cell tower, are an excellent way to produce our own clean, renewable energy. We've grown accustomed to the sight of cell towers, water towers and utility poles on the horizon - why not turbines?

I think we can all agree that it is in our best interest to be less reliant on foreign powers for our energy needs. We all share a common desire to protect that which is dear to us. Decisions that will affect the future of the prairies, lakes, beaches, rivers and mountains of this great country should not be made based on someone’s idea of beauty.

*Power plant photo from www.coal-is-dirty.com, Wind farm photo from www.focalenergy.nl

Wind Project Risk Assessment

Risk management is critically important in a wind project. A systematic method is required to identify risk factors, quantify the risk factors, compute the impact of risk factors on project performance and mitigate the risk.

Download Wind Project Risk Assessment whitepaper for details. In it a framework is presented for: Categorizing risk, quantifying risk and assessing impact of risk on the project. In addition, strategies for mitigating risk are described.

Risk is categorized based on phases of a wind project:

• Planning/installation risk is related to factors during the pre-energy production stage that impact the cost of and timeframe for implementation of a project.
  
• Operational risk factors are those that lead to uncertainty in revenue and cost after the implementation, which is during the energy production phase of the project.
  
• Systemic risk factors are those that impact both implementation and operations.

Planning/Installation Risk	Operational Risk	Systemic Risk
Prospecting risk: Cost and time of finding the most suitable parcel of land for wind farm	Wind resource: Uncertainty in energy production due to wind speed, shear, turbulence, air density and others	Interest rate risk
Land lease risk: Cost and time of signing a land lease agreement	Turbine and plant performance: Uncertainty in energy production due to power curve, losses	Currency risk
Permitting risk: Cost and time of state/local government permits, environmental and transmission permits	Grid access: Energy cannot be delivered due to grid outage	Locale risk

In the framework risk is quantified along three parameters:

• What does this risk factor impact? Choose one or more.
  
  • Revenue
    
  • Cost
    
  • Time
    
• What is the amount of uncertainty?
  
• What is the impact of risk factor on Revenue, Cost and Time? And how does the impact change over time?

The impact of risk is estimated based on the P84, P90 and more generically Pn estimates, where n is any number greater than 50 and less than 100. In the whitepaper the concept is explained through examples.

Article written by Pramod Jain

Visit Wind Energy Consulting and Contracting Inc.

New Free WindSight Small Wind Assessment

We recognize the inherent value of wind energy projects, of all sizes. And, no matter the size of your project, you need to do your homework. For everyone considering a wind project, we've created the Free WindSight Assessment for you. Whether you are just curious about what kind of wind resource your site has, or if you have a real project in mind, Our WindSight Assessment is a quick and easy way for you determine if wind will work for you.

Our simple, straight-forward online form takes just a few minutes to fill in, then we get your report back to you in two days. We're going to ask about your electricity use, so have your latest utility bill handy. Our WindSight Assessment is your first step to going green. Go to www.wind-consulting.com/websales/ to request your free WindSight report.

Sustainable Energy Solutions for Facility Managers with Behind-the-Meter Wind Projects

Commercial applications of single or a few wind turbines with rated power capacity in the range of 50KW to 2,500KW are the focus of this blog. Such turbines can be cost effective for a wide range of applications: Factories; warehouses; office parks; housing communities; schools/colleges; hospitals; municipal facilities like jails; water treatment facilities; and others. These projects are referred to as "Behind the Meter" projects.

A white paper is available that briefly describes: How such projects can fit into your energy mix; how much energy can be produced; how is variability of wind energy managed; what are the incentives; what is the cost of wind energy; what is the ideal location of a wind project; and what to avoid.

It concludes that such projects can deliver electricity at stable costs (because raw material is free) and under the right wind conditions such projects may deliver electricity at a cost that is below retail.

Article written by Pramod Jain

Visit Wind Energy Consulting and Contracting Inc.

Small Wind: Buyer Beware!

Small wind solutions are increasingly becoming financially viable thanks to local and federal incentives, and from a technical perspective the quality factor is improving. The historically negative aspect about installing a small wind solution was that it would take an extraordinarily long period of time to pay back associative costs; if ever during the expected life span of the wind turbine generator.

From my vantage point ‘quality’ and ‘pricing’ in small wind are among the largest concerns. However, of greater concern is that there seems to be a growing abundance of misleading, if not deceptive advertising and false or unrealistic claims by many manufacturers. These take the form of claiming higher energy output, faster payback periods (using higher than what can normally be expected wind speeds in their energy calculations), and other types of unethical claims and behaviors.

But help is on the way, manufacturers of small wind turbines that form the legitimate face of the small wind industry are in the process of creating accountability within their segment of the industry. In addition to industry events, we are seeing the advent of the Small Wind Certification Council. We may soon see a certification process that will eliminate the industry’s seedier side. New small wind turbine generators are rapidly emerging from individual’s garages to manufacturers in both newer vertical and the more traditional horizontal models.

Vertical wind technology remains in its infancy and energy power output claims by manufacturers are almost always overstated…sometimes grossly overstated (the same applies for many horizontal wind turbine generators on the market). In my view, only one vertical wind turbine generator (VWTG) manufacturer is really trying to get it right (I applaud Mariah Power) by subjecting its product to the testing rigors of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). After NREL suspended testing for mechanical failure, Mariah Power continues to try and ‘get it right’ through modifications and through an independent testing regime. As of today WECC does not recommend any vertical wind turbine generator to our clients.

Note: Relative to the topic of VWTGs, Mick Sagrillo offers a strongly worded and germane Open Letter to Vertical Wind Access Turbine Manufacturers – worth the read!

We must recognize that in the current environment in most cases the manufacturer claims of power production, payback, power curve, size of generator vs. actual power output, and conditions of internal testing are solely the manufacturer’s, and the consumer must be able to trust that information that is presented to them is indeed reliable. In my view, to determine legitimacy any small turbine as a viable small wind solution, the manufacturer must subject their machine to the rigors of independent testing until such time that the Small Wind Certification Council has codified its processes and independent testing/reporting becomes an industry standard. Using the power curve and energy output data from an entity with no connection to the manufacturer adds strength and proves the manufacturer’s assertions. Up until now in most cases, we only have the manufacturer’s data in order to complete a cost/benefit analysis before purchasing a small wind turbine generator.

A sad fact is that in the past year many, many inventors and manufacturers are emerging in the ‘small wind’ space and the ‘checks and balances’ are not yet in place to protect the burgeoning small wind industry from itself. Until the Small Wind Certification Council gains some ‘legs and teeth’ and the legitimate small wind manufacturers gain momentum in policing the industry, we can expect continued consumer confusion and in some cases, unchecked deceptive practices. The long and short of this is Small Wind: Buyer Beware!

Article written by Wayne Hildreth
Email Wayne at hildreth@frombeginningtowind.com
Visit Wind Energy Consulting and Contracting Inc.

Impact of Variability and Uncertainty of Wind Resources on the Grid

Fact: The amount of wind energy that is produced and delivered to the grid depends on the wind speed.

Fact: Although wind speeds can be forecasted (uncertainty in forecast can be reduced), the variability in wind speed cannot be controlled. Meaning wind has its own schedule, we may be able to predict it, but we cannot match its schedule of the demand schedule.

Fact: The goal of a Utility is to provide reliable power, whenever the customer demands (of course within reason).

Question: What happens when wind is strong (high supply) and there is low demand on the grid?

Question: What happens when there is no wind (low supply) and demand is high on the grid?

Before answering these questions let me present the background. For simplicity there are three types of generators in a grid: Base load generators, spinning reserve and non-spinning reserves.

Base load generators are the large thermal and nuclear power plants that supply electricity. These generators operate 24x7, and produce almost constant amount of electrical power running close to rated power capacity.

Spinning reserves are generators that are spinning (or on) all the time and react of changes in electrical energy demand. Examples are natural gas fired and hydro generators. The amount of fuel is regulated by the demand. These generators are typically running at low output but can react to changes in demand quickly by increasing or decreasing output without sharp drop in efficiency.

Non-spinning reserves are generators that are turned on in case of large spike in demand or large decrease in supply. The startup time is 10 to 30 minutes. In case of unexpected events, these reserves relieve spinning reserves running at full throttle.

These reserves are pooled across utilities and grid operators manage uncertainties in demand and supply with reserves they own and moving energy from other utilities.

When wind energy is added the grid, it introduces variability to the supply side. The same mechanisms of spinning and non-spinning reserves which are used to manage variability in the grid are also used to manage wind energy variability. Meaning when wind energy is on, spinning reserves reduce output. According to Brady and Gramlich[1], when there is high penetration of wind energy, there may be a need to increase reserves, but the increase is modest. Studies have shown that integration of 10 to 20 percent wind can cost $0.005/kWh.

[1] D. Brady, R. Gramlich, “Getting Smart About Wind and Demand Response,” Wind Systems, pp. 28-33, July 2009.

Article written by Dr. Pramod Jain

Email Pramod at pramod@frombeginningtowind.com

Visit Wind Energy Consulting and Contracting Inc.

Small wind - Is it right for you?

The search for affordable and sustainable energy sources in today’s struggling economy may have you looking toward the small wind market. Small wind projects –those 100kW and below - can prove beneficial for small businesses, homes, manufacturing plants, schools and municipalities given the right conditions. However, small wind is not feasible for every situation. Before thinking any further about a small wind project, consider the following.

Small wind is a practical solution for you if:

You have sufficient wind

No wind, no go. A wind speed of at least 6 m/s, or 12mph, is the current standard for feasible and economically viable wind projects of this size.

You have enough space to support the project

A general recommendation is at least one acre of space in a rural setting. It may work in urban settings however, if there is an unobstructed wind flow. Wind turbines work most efficiently when the wind flow is streamlined.

Tall structures are allowed in your area

If there are strict zoning ordinances in your area that would prevent a feasible turbine tower height, small wind may not be right for you. We recommend a fall zone of at least one and one-half the length of the turbine.

You have a realistic picture of your energy demand

Small wind projects can reduce your electricity bill by 50-90%, given an adequate wind resource and hub height. The key is matching your energy demand to turbine power output.

You are comfortable with a long-term investment

Although incentives and grants make wind energy projects more competitive and economically feasible, small wind projects will generally have a longer payback period compared with other investments. If you are looking for a quick return on investment, small wind probably isn’t for you.

Article written by Sarah Smith

Email Sarah at smith@frombeginningtowind.com

Visit Wind Energy Consulting and Contracting Inc.

Common mistakes to avoid in your small wind project

A large fraction of small wind projects turn out to be subpar financial investments because of simple mistakes made in the initial phases of project development. This entry focuses on those common mistakes and provides simple steps that can be taken to ensure a more viable project from the performance and financial perspectives. For more details see the associated whitepaper.

Small turbines, with power ratings of less than 100KW, are being installed at a rapid pace. These wind projects are being used to power small businesses, buildings, malls, houses and a variety of other applications. Unlike the multi-million dollar large scale projects that undergo rigorous wind resource, siting, and financial assessments, small wind projects undergo significantly less analysis and preparation. The end result generally reflects the lack of preparation, as turbines produce less energy than advertised.

In order to attain on par financial performance of small wind projects the following due diligence must be performed:

• Ensure that the energy production used in the calculation is based on your local wind conditions and based on independently tested or certified power curve.
  
• Ensure that the wind speeds used in the calculations have been verified through onsite measurement or some other means.
  
• A location has been chosen that will receive unobstructed wind and minimum turbulence from obstacles and local vegetation.
  
• Ensure that the turbine is well built and is suitable for your environment and,
  
• Check if the turbine is certified; if it is not, obtain test results
  

If the proper due diligence is not performed you are likely to be negatively surprised by the results.

Article written by Dr. Pramod Jain

Email Pramod at pramod@frombeginningtowind.com

Visit Wind Energy Consulting and Contracting Inc.

Use of Wind Turbines to Capture Energy from Air Exhaust

There are several air exhaust applications where large volume of air is pumped externally continuously. Examples are: Coal mines; covered parking lots; and, industrial air handling systems. The first two applications extract contaminated air necessary to maintain satisfactory air quality, and the third application is to use air to transport materials, remove moisture, etc.

Using the above examples, a natural assumption is that the exhaust emissions can be captured and converted into useable energy. Let us consider a few scenarios:

1. Attach a wind turbine directly to the exhaust. In this scenario the exhaust air (speed = V_a, Kinetic energy = K_a) is directly fed to the turbine; the turbine extracts (K_b), a fraction of the kinetic energy in the wind; the remaining kinetic energy is expelled (K_c) with wind speed = V_c. In this scenario, the turbine is able to extract K_b, which will be less than (K_a – K_c); losses will reduce the amount of electrical energy generated.
   

   Assume that the original exhaust system used K₀ amount of energy, which produced an exhaust with kinetic energy of K_a.

   At this point let us ask the question, what if the exhaust system reduced the amount of energy used from K₀ to K₀ – K_b? This would lower the exhaust kinetic energy from K_a to K_c, assuming no losses. So placing an exhaust turbine is equivalent to reducing the input energy of the system.
   

   Therefore, when losses are taken into account, it is more energy efficient to reduce the input energy rather than install an exhaust turbine. Of course reducing the input energy does not cost anything, whereas installing a turbine incurs a cost.
   

   To recap, it is much more efficient to reduce the overall energy consumption of the system from K₀ to K₀-K_b, rather than place a turbine to extract K_b energy. Both lead to expulsion of K_c amount of energy.
   

   So in this scenario an exhaust turbine does not make sense.

2. Place a wind turbine at some distance from and in relation to the exhaust duct. In this situation significant energy will be lost to the outside and the other energy that hits the turbine can be conceptually viewed as a tube of air that is subject to exactly the same analysis as was conducted in item 1. So for this tube of air it is better to reduce the amount of input energy as opposed to recovering it using a wind turbine.
   

In conclusion, although the exhaust wind turbine idea seems promising conceptually, it is not.

Article written by Dr. Pramod Jain

Email Pramod at pramod@frombeginningtowind.com

Visit Wind Energy Consulting and Contracting Inc.