Small Wind Energy Has Limited Applications, But Won’t Go Away

As the legendary mandolinist Sam Bush puts it in this classic:

Same ol’ river

Same ol’ sea

Same ol’ waters rushing over me

Same ol’ moon

Same ol’ sun

Same ol’ race that I’ve always run

The same could be said for small wind, defined as anything under 50KW; it’s not going anywhere, as suggested in the video linked above.

The application these guys present (off-grid bus shelters that need to provide cell phone charging and Wifi) actually does make sense, but that’s about it.  Suggesting that this twist of the thousand-year-old Savonius turbine has advantages over the three blade solution we see today for megawatt+ power production is misleading, and the claim that conventional turbines have no brakes to prevent them from catching fire in high winds is completely untrue.

I also dispute that these devices are being made in the most cost-effective means possible, insofar as they’re made individually by hand.  That’s simply not going to scale.  It’s like saying you’re manufacturing paperclips with a team of people standing in a shop with needle-nosed pliers; I really don’t even want to think about it.

If you’re looking for cost-effective manufacturing of Savonius turbines, check out WindStream.  Very well-thought-through process, and still they’re having a tough time.

Having said this, they really do look cool; I hope you’ll check out the video.