World Wind Watch | Green Energy News

November 5, 2006 – Vol. 11 No. 33

WORLD WIND WATCH.

Renewable energy is not just about utilizing replenishable resources for energy. It’s also about putting local resources to work for energy at the least cost.

At the grid scale, wind has enjoyed popularity because of its relatively low cost. But what about off-grid power and energy independence for those who want no part of electric utility companies? Can they enjoy wind energy?

Southwest Windpower is promoting its Skystream 3.7(tm) small wind generator as an alternative energy source for grid connected power, but the new product will also offered in battery charging configurations used in off-grid power as well as marine applications.

The company has announced that its new product has been awarded a 2006 a Best of What's New Award by Popular Science magazine. The award will likely increase sales of the wind generator.

The Skystream 3.7 (3.7 for its rotor diameter in meters) has a rated output of 1.8 kilowatts comes with a built-in inverter and requires winds 10 miles per hour and up for rated capacity operation. In periods of stronger winds the turbine could produce more power than needed that could, if the utility company agrees, be sold back to the grid.

The device is available with mounting poles up to 110 feet. Visit Skystream at http://www.skystreamenergy.com/

With small wind generators ocean front dwellers can harness the wind but someday soon might be able to harness the power of wind-driven waves.

SyncWave Energy is focusing on off-grid, remote power in its development of its SyncWave Power Resonator. The Canadian company, which says it will move ahead with a 3-year, $15-million demonstration project for the device, says that its Resonator should be able to produce electricity at the equivalent of 5-cents (US) per kilowatt hour.

The company has a prototype (nicknamed Charlotte) now in testing. The production device, now planned for introduction by 2009, will utilize the resonance of waves - like radio waves - to contribute to the generation of electricity. The device includes two floats and presumably some generation equipment that is moored in deep water with power cabled to shore. Visit SyncWave at http://www.syncwaveenergy.com/

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) reports that the National Audubon now “strongly supports wind power as a clean alternative energy source.” The Society says that it is more concerned about bird extinction due to global warming than bird kills from turbines. In an interview with the AWEA, the Society’s President John Flicker believed that new turbines were much safer for birds, but siting mistakes can still cause kills. Visit the AWEA at http://www.awea.org/