Real-world tests of small wind turbines in Netherlands and the UK

[phantom power]

Two real-world tests performed in the Netherlands and in the UK confirm our earlier analysis that small wind turbines are a fundamentally flawed technology. Their financial payback time is much longer than their life expectancy, and in urban areas, some poorly placed wind turbines will not even deliver as much energy as needed to operate them (let alone energy needed to produce them). Given their long payback period relative to their life expectancy, most small wind turbines are net energy consumers rather than net energy producers.

The machines face two fundamental problems: there is not enough wind at low altitudes in a built-up environment, and the energy production of a wind turbine declines more than proportionately to the rotor diameter. Wind power rules, but small wind turbines are a swindle.


12 Small Wind Turbines Tested in the Netherlands

The Dutch coastal province of Zeeland (a very windy place) placed twelve of these much hyped machines in a row on an open plain (picture above). Their energy yield was measured over a period of one year (April 1, 2008 - March 31, 2009). The average wind velocity during these 12 months was 3.8 metres per second (more on the wind speed later).

Three wind turbines broke. Find the disappointing results of the others below. (Original test results here, pdf in Dutch.)

- Energy Ball v100 (4,304 euro) : 73 kWh per year, corresponding to an average output of 8.3 watts
- Ampair 600 (8,925 euro) : 245 kWh per year or an average output of 28 watts
- Turby (21,350 euro) : 247 kWh per year or an average output of 28.1 watts
- Airdolphin (17,548 euro) : 393 kWh per year or an average output of 44.8 watts
- WRE 030 (29,512 euro) : 404 kWh per year or an average output of 46 watts
- WRE 060 (37,187 euro) : 485 kWh per year or an average output of 55.4 watts
- Passaat (9,239 euro) : 578 kWh per year or an average output of 66 watts
- Skystream (10,742 euro) : 2,109 kWh per year or an average power output of 240.7 watts
- Montana (18,508 euro) : 2,691 kWh per year or an average power output of 307 watts.

Keep in mind that these wind turbines would perform considerably worse in a built-up area.

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6954#more

[kristopher]

1. "Wind power rules, but small wind turbines are a swindle."

Wind power is a large scale, distributed technology and those wanting to support it should contact their utility and ask about purchasing renewable energy from wind. Their money will be used by the utility to support wind development.

[Bitwit1234]

2. Tell you one thing if they could harness

all the hot air in DC we could solve our energy problem.