Wind
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Wind turbines range in
size from small 250 Watts turbines to 1.65 MW utility scale turbines with
off-shore turbines reaching up to 5 MW.
There are two basic electric wind turbine designs:
vertical-axis, or “egg beater” design and the most common
horizontal-axis style, which is used in most utility applications.
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Turbines have four principal components: the blades or rotor, a nacelle that contains the drive
train, gearbox and generator, the tower, and the balance of system which
includes ground support equipment, controls, electrical cables and utility
interconnection equipment.
Because turbines convert the wind’s kinetic energy into mechanical or electrical energy, wind speed
is a vital component to system output. Most small electricity producing turbines require at least 9 mph
annual average wind speeds for operation. For more information on Wind energy applications visit the American Wind Energy
Association at: www.awea.org.
The wind maps are provided by National Renewable Energy Laboratory and is a great resource for the
following:
Delaware's Wind Resource Map
Provided by the NREL
Link directly to the Delaware Wind Resource Map
and other information: http://www.eere.energy.gov/windpoweringamerica/wpa/maps_template.asp?stateab=DE
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The Delaware Energy Office is offering grants up to 50% of the installation
cost of
Wind technologies. Link to Incentive Programs for
instructions. Incentives are also available in New Jersey. Or for a
list of contractors in the region, click
here.
Check the Green Plains Energy, Inc.
Calendar of Events for Workshops, Trade
Shows and other events in your area.
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Where can I find more information?
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