Catalogue of Small Wind Turbines - 2011 - Nordic Folkecenter for ...

I - Catalogue of Small Wind Turbines - 2011 -
Professor He Dexin, president of the Chinese
Wind Energy Association, and Preben Maegaard,
director of the Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable
Energy, met in Beijing in March 2011 to plan
matters of common interest.
A short introduction to our readers
We have the pleasure to publish the fifth edition of the
“Catalogue of Small Wind Turbines”. Since its first appearance
in the spring of 2006, a new edition has been regularly
published.
Similar to the 2010 edition, this catalogue is composed through
a joint effort of the Chinese Wind Energy Association and the
Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy. It includes even
more manufacturers of small windmills of up to 50 kW, which
illustrates that this new renewable energy segment is finding
increased applications for the supply of clean energy.
As in previous editions, not all small windmills are represented in
the catalogue. We make every effort to present detailed and well
documented information about every manufacturer and type.
For this purpose, we try to contact every known supplier and ask
them to fill out a questionnaire and if no response is provided, we do not include their products in the catalogue.
Language barriers seem to be the main reason and some also prefer not to present their products to a wider
clientele, which we respect.
Small windmills find a wide application worldwide. Measured by their numbers, most of them are used in nonserved
areas in developing countries or by nomads that for obvious reasons cannot connect to the ordinary grid
but may still benefit from the supply of electricity.
Concern for the climate, saving scarce resources, the increasing costs of conventional energy production and
an interest in self supply is creating the basis of a new generation of small windmills for use in the industrialized
countries. In rare cases, the wind machines may be for off-grid use but most are connected and deliver excess
power to the grid in case supply is greater than demand; however, supplemental power is provided by the grid
when wind is not sufficient.
Small-scale wind energy technologies are currently surpassing their pioneering stage. New industries are
emerging to satisfy the need of a market that has great potential with consumers looking for new lifestyle
products that are environmentally beneficial. International conferences focusing on small windmills are part of a
trend. At exhibitions in Beijing and Husum, a wide variety of innovative small windmills and components are
presented to thousands of visitors. In some countries, manufacturers’ organisations represent the interest of
small windmills and testing and certification can be made according to international standards.
After several years of preparations, Denmark in 2010 launched a legislative framework that paves the way for a
much wider use of small windmills, especially in rural areas. The new standard is focused on windmills of up to
6 kW, with a maximum of 40m 2 swept area and 25m height to the tip of the blade. Such a family-type windmill
delivers up to 12 000 kWh of electricity per year, enough to satisfy the needs in most households.
Especially attractive is the introduction of the net metering principle; the value of each kWh is similar to the
value of the avoided purchase of power from the grid. With almost 200% tax on electricity in Denmark, each
kWh generated by a small windmill is worth around EUR 0.27 or three times more than the remuneration for
conventional wind power. In case other countries introduce similar framework, the small-scale wind industry
can expect a rapid growth with more reliable and efficient technologies as a consequence of the cost benefits of
mass production and increased competition.
The small-scale wind industry has changed significantly since the catalogue’s first publication in 2006. I give
special thanks to the author, Katrina Christensen, who for the fifth time took the effort to contact every
manufacturer represented in the catalogue, compiled the information and presented the data in templates that
is easily accessible and comparable.
Next year we plan to compile a 2012 edition. New entries and additions are of course welcome to make the
catalogue even more representative to the small windmill world community.
Preben Maegaard
Director, Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy
Founding President of the World Wind Energy Association
April 2011