A brand new examine by Wind Harvest, an organization that’s constructing a novel sort of quick, utility-scale turbine, has discovered that mid-level wind generators may nearly quadruple the vitality output within the notoriously windy San Gorgonio Cross (SGP). These generators would supply sufficient vitality to energy 1 million California properties annually.
Mid-level wind is a time period used to explain the presently untapped vitality assets discovered within the turbulent wind 15 ft to 100 ft (5-30m) above the bottom. In distinction, fashionable horizontal axis wind generators (HAWTs) reap the benefits of easy (laminar) wind vitality over 100 ft above the bottom.
On this examine, Wind Harvest analyzed 65 ft (20m) above-ground wind speeds within the San Gorgonio Cross utilizing publicly out there location data and common annual wind speeds from UL’s Windnavigator, the world’s finest instrument for evaluating wind speeds, with information verified by a meteorologist who has collected information within the Cross for over 40 years.
The evaluation reveals that current farms may add 1,807 megawatts (MWs) of quick, Wind Harvester-type vertical axis wind generators (VAWT) to the 682 MWs of HAWTs presently put in. Windy areas across the current wind farms which are presently blocked from HAWT installations may add one other 1,329 MWs of quick VAWTS for a complete of over 3,100 MWs (3.1 GWs) of capability.
Primarily based on the mid-level wind speeds within the zone and the annual vitality manufacturing of Wind Harvester VAWTs, the addition of three.1 GWs of mid-level generators would produce ~10,000 GWh of electrical energy per 12 months. That’s nearly 4 occasions the prevailing 2,661 GWh of annual vitality output. The extra output would provide a million California properties with all of the electrical energy they use in a 12 months.
Many wind-rich areas within the SGP haven’t been developed, regardless of minimal regulatory, environmental, or inhabitants issues. One speculation as to why, in accordance with the examine, is that house owners and neighbors of those properties don’t want to see standard 300’ to 500’ tall generators put in there. The examine supposes that there gained’t be robust opposition to mid-level VAWTs that may be as quick as 60’ tall, particularly when put in underneath current wind generators on already-developed land.
Kevin Wolf, CEO of Wind Harvest, mentioned of the examine: “To realize a clear vitality future, we have to make use of the least costly sources of renewable vitality. Doubling using the land and infrastructure within the state’s small variety of wind farms and making use of wind that blows in areas beforehand unreachable by present wind generators can be an enormous win for the state’s ratepayers.”
Learn the total report HERE.
Wind Harvest designs, makes, and sells Wind Harvester™ VAWTs to business and utility clients. These generators will fluctuate in capability from 50 kilowatts (“kW”) to 250kW. Their blade ideas will attain as excessive as 120 ft above the bottom. All can be designed for the turbulent and gusting mid-level wind that conventional generators are unable to make use of. Their first Wind Harvester can be third-party licensed and out there on the market in 2024 with 50 to 75kW mills.
For extra data on Wind Harvest, go to https://www.windharvest.com.
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