| Vertical, Baby! |
[May. 24th, 2006|07:35 am] |
yeah I know I say it too often, and you know it already, but I love Vertical Axis Wind Turbines. It's no secret.
And that's why I was pleased as a peanut this morning to read the PR Release from Torrence CA's PacWind Technologies. as they announced today the availability of its patented, scaleable Vertical Axis Wind Turbine the Sea Hawk.
The SeaHawk, the first turbine in a series, has a power output of 1 kilowatt and a maximum power output of 3.4 kilowatts (retails for $4,495-- batteries not included). The SeaHawk measures 55 inches high by 30 inches in diameter. This PacWind VAWT is scaleable to megawatt class turbines. The compact SeaHawk design enables freedom of choice and flexibility for installations, and allows one or more units to mount on a single pole. The unit is also roof-top mountable, and can be set as high or low as the winds demand. Custom mounts are also available. It "incorporates PacWind's patented, permanent magnet, three-phase A.C. generator, containing the most powerful rare-earth magnets in the industry. This allows the VAWT to produce more power at lower wind speeds compared to propeller driven generators,"
Sure there are some questions about using AC and storing it (ok you wont need an inverter to run your house, and it's easier for grid connecting). And it isn't quite as hot as the Texan MagWind. But it does look like a winner. AC makes it about 1/2 price, and they are looking for distributors and dealers... so this is kinda a groundfloor opportunity for someone out there....
I am wondering though.. to me it looks a lot like Quebec's CataVent a 12 year old VAWT:
what do you think? |
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| vertical axis bold as love part 2 |
[Mar. 31st, 2006|02:17 am] |
ok you know me, you know i love vertical axis wind turbines so I'm happy to say that there seems to be yet one more design that is now getting some nice attention! yay!! it's from a show Globe2006 and they talk a bit about this groovy gyroscopically stabilized VAWT! it's the SRI and while it looks big, apparently they have a model that will do your home, and cost only $4,000 (thats canadian, so it's a little under $3,500 US). Not bad.... |
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| vertical axis bold as love... |
[Jan. 30th, 2006|11:29 am] |
welcome to the wacky world of
Vertical Axis Wind Turines!
treehugger has this super cute pic on their site today talking about The QuietRevolution; these really hot vertical turbines that light up at night! And, being the TH-junkie that i am, went to comment right away. And i was going to splather the comments with a bunch of links (like I often do- under my typekey pseudonym du jour) 'bout all of these different types of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines.. instead I simply wrote: "VAWTs ROCK THe HOUSE!!" and that was it(!) Besides, it was a really hot VAWT: Carbon fiber ...only one moving part... I may have a new winner in my favorite VAWT catregory.
 "
There were others... I used to have a thing for that one up there-- still do. My first vawtlove, the Windaus (which BTW STILL has the best homepage for any vawt) was a local one. But like I said, there have been others.. See, here's the deal. They make no noise (ok the mega-huge 1.5MW turbines don't iether), and kill no birds or bats --again with most new mega turbines that isn't a problem, but if you live in the country and want to have a 2KW Bergy or SouthWest Windpower, you will have noise and you will have dead birds... and you don't go to the country to hear a windmill whine.. So again, VAWTs ROCK THe HOUSE!!
...and they have cool designs like mad!! ( Read more... ) |
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| Manchester England England... across the Atlantic sea... |
[Aug. 9th, 2005|03:50 pm] |
... and this is genius genius!!
Co-Operative Financial Services (and when they say co-operative they mean co-operative!) has not only just covered their CIS Building in Manchester with the largest vertical display of PV cells in the UK. They've gone WAY WAY better! They put 24 microturbine wind generators on the roof. This is the biggest urban wind farm yet. The company kicks ass! Gary Thomas, who's head of property and facilities at CFS says in this BBC Article, that he is so stoked by the progress that he's going to kick the plan down on another 200 of their buildings! oh and guess what? He says they are going to ammortize in three years! ok. no more excuses for ANYONE! |
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