Small Wind Power
Wind turbine systems have been developed over a number of years, and each generation builds on knowledge from previous products and experience.
In no case is this more true that with the Iskra AT5-1 5kW small wind turbine. Developed by the engineering team at Iskra over a 5 year period, the AT5-1 design contains a number of very innovative design features that make it one of the most technologically advanced small wind turbine on the market today. If you want to learn more about the design of the Iskra turbine, please read our White Paper.
The Southwest Windpower Skystream 3.7 is different from all other small wind turbines, as the Skystream 3.7 is the first all-inclusive wind generator with the controls and inverter built into the turbine. The Skystream 3.7 has been developed by Southwest Windpower in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and should you want to learn more about that process, they have published a technical paper on Balancing Performance, Noise and Cost of the Skystream. (Known as the Storm when this paper was published).
Applying Modern PV Technology In Southern Spain
The greatest potential for PV technology is where the sun shines brightest and longest, which is why Segen is creating its first demonstration site in Andalusia in southern Spain.
The south of Spain has one of the highest levels of solar radiation in Europe. Typically a1 kW rated solar PV system could produce around 2,000 kWh each year, more than twice than could be generated at higher northern latitudes, such as London's location.
Solar radiation levels and average sunshine hours increase as you travel from northern to southern Spain. PV solar cells convert this radiation directly into electricity. For example, a 17% efficient solar cell in Galicia will convert 1240 kWh/m2/per year into 211 kWh of electricity, while in Andalusia this would increase to 316 kWh.
Future Efficiencies For Even Greater Economies
Given the potential for even greater technical efficiencies in the production of clean forms of energy generation, we would eventually hope to attain price parity with traditional carbon-based fuels.
For the future then, we can expect to see even lower costs for sustainable energy production, making it even more competitive as the price of limited fossil-fuel reserves escalates.
