Joe Garvey, Marywood’s Vice President for Business Affairs and Treasurer, said the WindTamer turbine was chosen because of its relatively small size and its lack of any negative environmental impact on the campus. "Marywood has a commitment to sustainability and to reducing our carbon footprint," said Mr. Garvey. He said that the turbine will be used to help power the University’s new aquatics center, and added that "if this turbine performs as expected we will purchase as many as six more."
Mark Matthews, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for WindTamer, said the unit, which will be installed in May 2010, is an important step in opening up the market for colleges and universities, many of which are aggressively adding alternative power generation, including wind turbines. Mr. Matthews said that the purchase by Marywood "is exciting because it will be used not just for power, but for also educational purposes."
WindTamer turbines produce more than double the power of traditional wind turbines for a faster return on investment. The turbines not only provide wind energy, they also are silent, safe for birds and only as tall as a flag pole.
From small residences to large commercial buildings, there’s a WindTamer configuration that will provide reliable, cost-effective wind power.
Wind is an energy source that’s abundant, free and clean. As a result, its popularity for producing electricity is growing dramatically. The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) projects 30-fold growth of electricity provided by wind within as little as five years, despite a global recession. Here’s why:
Helps the environment
New wind farm projects accounted for about 40 percent of new power producing capacity in the United States in 2008, according to the AWEA. That means wind power will keep carbon emissions from increasing by almost 44 million tons – that’s the equivalent of taking seven million cars off the road.
National priority
The more America uses wind power, the less dependent we will be on other countries for our energy. In 2008, electric power generated by the wind increased 50 percent in the U.S., and $17 billion was invested in wind power projects. The U.S. Department of Energy has reported that a major portion of the nation’s electricity — 20 percent — could be generated by wind power in 20 years. Federal and state agencies are offering attractive incentives to help that become a reality.
Global trend
Wind energy is an accepted energy solution worldwide. Many European countries produce 10 percent or more of their power from the wind; in Denmark, it’s 20 percent.
Growth of small wind solutions
The U.S. market for small wind turbines (those with capacities of 100kw or less), grew 78 percent in 2008, according to the AWEA. The AWEA also reported that U.S. manufacturers sold about half of all small wind turbines installed worldwide that year.
A wind turbine is simply the opposite of a fan. While a fan uses electricity to make wind, a wind turbine uses wind to make electricity. A basic wind turbine consists of a rotor and an electrical generator at the top of a tower. The wind turns the blades, which spins the rotor’s shaft. The turning shaft connects to a generator and makes electricity. Wires then deliver the electricity to where it’s needed.
Many factors determine the amount of energy a wind turbine can generate. Some are:
Rotor size – The length of the rotor blades significantly affects the turbine’s performance. In general, the larger and longer the blades, the more wind can be collected.
Wind speed – The energy available from the wind increases exponentially as wind speed increases. In other words, doubling the wind speed increases the available energy by a factor of eight. Because wind speed typically increases with the height above the ground, many turbines must be installed on tall towers.
Blade speed – The faster the blades spin, the more energy is created.
Air density – The energy available in the wind is directly proportional to air density. As air density increases, the power available also increases. Air density is affected by both pressure and temperature, both of which decrease with the elevation above the ground.
Turbine technology – All wind turbines are not created equal. Turbine technology can have a dramatic affect on energy production.
WindTamer Corporation is a developer and manufacturer of highly efficient wind power generators that utilizes patented technology for the production of electrical power. Applications of WindTamer wind turbines include stand-alone and roof-mounted residential; stand-alone and roof-mounted commercial and industrial; wind farms; boat-dock, RV and other recreational applications; portable and transportation; and back-up power sourcing.
