Small Wind

Siting and Feasibility  |  Financing  |  Case Study  |  This is Just the Beginning...

A wind energy system transforms the wind’s kinetic energy into mechanical or electrical energy. Wind energy may be captured by both small and large-scale turbines. Small turbines are typically installed on the rooftops of buildings. Rooftop installations can provide a surprising amount of energy, and many new small-scale technologies are being developed that provide more energy per installed kilowatt. Small wind-systems can be good complements to other renewable installations such as PV or geothermal.

Siting Considerations

If you think your site is windy enough to power a small wind turbine, it probably is. If your site is measured at class 2 or higher (at least 9.8 mph), most likely you can successfully install a small-scale turbine. Check out the Massachusetts wind map to get an estimate of wind speeds in your area, but remember that these are only area estimates. An anemometer evaluation will be necessary before installing a system.

Small turbines may be installed on the ground or on roofs. Turbine height and clearance will depend on manufacturer specifications and zoning limits. Photo: Students help install the new small wind turbine at Cape Cod Community College.

Financing

• MTC Small SRI program provides funding for rebates for the installation of wind and small hydroelectric projects that are up to 10 kilowatts and located at residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and public facilities. The applicant (and project site) must be a customer of a Massachusetts investor-owned electric distribution utility. Find out more at: http://www.masstech.org/renewableenergy/small_renewables.htm.
• Selling RECs could help defray the first costs associated with a wind installation.

Case Study

UMASS Lowell's Center for Electric Car and Energy Conversion currently has three small-scale turbines installed in its renewable energy lab. UMASS Lowell faculty and students are evaluating the energy production of the different models. Find out more about the models UMASS Lowell is testing at their website.

Photo: Dr. Ziyad Salameh (Center Co-director) with the three turbine installations. (Courtesy Dr. Salameh)

 

 

 

This is just the beginning…

Students at Cape Cod Community College can study wind energy and small wind system installation. CCCC offers a small wind technology certificate. Find out more about CCCC’s wind courses at their website.

The Massachusetts Department of Energy has published a guide to small wind installations. See it at www.mass.gov.( pdf file)

The American Wind Energy Association has information on small-scale installations here: http://www.awea.org/smallwind.

Read this primer on small wind turbines by Michael Bergey.

Harvard University has compiled a spreadsheet of different small turbines lists manufacturers, websites, power ratings, and prices. Download it at http://greencampus.harvard.edu/cre/wind.php.