Wind Energy: One Size

Doesnt Fit All

Larry Flowers
Deputy Director, Distributed & Community Wind
American Wind Energy Association

Sales of Small Wind Turbines Up in 2009

U.S. Market Prospers Thanks to Incentives, Investment, Popular Demand
Among key findings of the study:
The U.S. small wind turbine market grew 15% in 2009 (9,800 units sold;
20.3 MW)
100,000 small wind turbines are now installed in the U.S. (100+MW total)
The U.S. market is the worlds largest (half of all units and capacity
added worldwide)
The U.S. is the worlds leading manufacturer of small wind turbines (twothirds of small wind systems sold in the world in 2009)
ARRA expanded the federal ITC for small wind turbines in 2009 to 30%
In 2009during the height of the economic recession--$80 million of
private equity was invested into small wind turbine manufacturing
companies,($250+ million since 2004)
For a copy of the full report see
http://www.awea.org/smallwind/pdf/2010_AWEA_Small_Wind_Turbine_Global_Market_Study.pdf

Growth of U.S. Small Wind Market

Small Wind Incentives

Rebate/Grant Programs
USDA - Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grants
Applies to commercial, schools, local government, state government,
tribal government, rural electric cooperatives, agricultural, and public
power entities
25% of total project costs

Federal Loan Programs

USDA - Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Loan Guarantees
Applies to agricultural producers and rural small businesses
25% of total project costs

Federal Tax Credits

Business Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
Applies to Commercial, Industry, Utility
30% for small wind (<100kW)

Federal Competitive Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBS)

State Tax Credit; buy downs
Small wind incentives vary widely from state to state,
current information can be found at: www.dsireusa.org

Residential Wind Incentives

$
$

$
$
$

$
$

$
$

$
$
$
Property Tax Exemptions

Feed-in Tariff
RPS

$
BUYDOWNS/GRANTS
Buydown/Grants
Buydown/Grants &
Net Metering
Buydown/Grants,
Net Metering, & Loans
Buydown/Grants, Net
Metering, & Prod. Inc.

PRODUCTIVITY INCENTIVES
Productivity
Incentives &
Loans

Productivity
Incentives

Net Metering, Loans

& Prod. Incentives

Net Metering &

Prod. Incentives

MINOR INCENTIVES
Loans

Personal State Tax Credits

Puerto Rico
Rebates
Federal Investment Tax Credits
are available for turbines 100
kW and less.

Net Metering & Loans

Net Metering
May 11, 2010

www.dsireusa.org

Renewable Portfolio Standards

www.dsireusa.org / November 2010
WA: 15% x 2020*

MN: 25% x 2025

MT: 15% x 2015

(Xcel: 30% x 2020)

ND: 10% x 2015

OR: 25% x 2025 (large utilities)*

MA: 22.1% x 2020

New RE: 15% x 2020
(+1% annually thereafter)

IA: 105 MW

CT: 23% x 2020

UT: 20% by 2025*

IL: 25% x 2025

KS: 20% x 2020

RI: 16% x 2020

NY: 29% x 2015

OH: 25% x 2025

CO: 30% by 2020 (IOUs)

CA: 33% x 2020

NH: 23.8% x 2025

x 2015*
SD: 10% x 2015 WI: Varies by utility;
10% x 2015 statewide

10% by 2020 (co-ops & large munis)*

New RE: 10% x 2017

MI: 10% + 1,100 MW

5% - 10% x 2025 (smaller utilities)

NV: 25% x 2025*

ME: 30% x 2000

VT: (1) RE meets any increase

in retail sales x 2012;
(2) 20% RE & CHP x 2017

PA: ~18% x 2021

WV: 25% x 2025*

NJ: 22.5% x 2021

VA: 15% x 2025*

MD: 20% x 2022

MO: 15% x 2021

AZ: 15% x 2025

OK: 15% x 2015

DE: 25% x 2026*

NC: 12.5% x 2021 (IOUs)

DC

DC: 20% x 2020

10% x 2018 (co-ops & munis)

NM: 20% x 2020 (IOUs)

10% x 2020 (co-ops)

TX: 5,880 MW x 2015

PR: 20% x 2035

HI: 40% x 2030

29 states +
Renewable portfolio standard
Renewable portfolio goal
Solar water heating eligible

Minimum solar or customer-sited requirement

Extra credit for solar or customer-sited renewables

Includes non-renewable alternative resources

DC and PR have
an RPS
(7 states have goals)

Wind is Economically Competitive, BUT+..

PV apparent benefits vs. small wind (i.e., why PV dominates the
states clean energy funds)
PV is easier to site (less neighborhood resistance)
PV is easier and faster to install (can disperse lots of $$ quickly)
PV can be applied in urban areas (where most IOU ratepayers live)
PV resource is widespread, simpler to assess and less site specific
PV has broader application (more ratepayers benefit)
PV has RPS set-asides
PV is cost competitive (or not, so it needs more incentive)
PV is considered more reliable and lower maintenance
PV has more rigorous warranty and performance standards
PV is sexier
PV looks like its working even when its not

Estimation of Annual Energy Production

Power Curve

Frequency of
Occurrence
(Rayleigh Distribution)

Annual Energy Production

Importance of Micro-Siting

Frequently Asked Questions - Siting

Radio/TV Interference: Not a problem with todays
fiberglass or wood blades (no metal blades!)
Noise:
< 30 mph, soft swoosh sound
> 30 mph, can get either flutter or
a helicopter sound
Noise test reports on the Web:
http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy04osti/34662.pdf

Impact on Birds: Bird kills are rare, use common

sense in siting turbines
FAA Regulations:
Proximity to local airport versus tower height
Investigate if within ~3 miles

12-Step Program for a Small Wind Project

1. Assess your electricity consumption,
cost, and your utility tariff
2. Be more energy efficient
reduce your
consumption
3. Estimate or measure wind resource
4. Select turbine size (model) and tower
height
5. Investigate incentives & economics
6. Get zoning approval

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12-Step Program for a Small Wind Project

7.

Complete a utility interconnection

agreement

8.

Obtain building & electrical permits

9.

Order turbine and tower

10. Install the turbine

11. Commission the turbine
12. Perform periodic inspections &
maintenance

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Zoning Scenarios
1. No Zoning Your local jurisdiction may not have exercised
its authority to regulate land use.
For Jurisdictions With Zoning:
2. Wind turbine tower is allowed common in agricultural
zones.
3. Structures above 35 ft often are not allowed common in
residential zones
Obtain a Variance or a Special Use Permit
(permission to violate the zoning code on one property)
Hearing process can cost thousands of dollars and take
several months
4. Work with the local jurisdiction to pass a small wind zoning
ordinance (broad application to many properties)
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Overall Economics of Wind Generation

are Determined by a Balance of Factors
Cost of
Money

Financial
Incentives

Cost to
Interconnect

Electricity
$ Savings

Cost of
Turbine

Wind
Speed

Higher Values
DISCOURAGE
Wind
Generation

Higher Values
FAVOR
Wind
Generation
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Example:
Wind Turbine Installed Cost
Red highlights = Turbine System Cost
Updated:

Bergey Excel-S (10 kW)

5-Jul-07

High Cost

Low Cost

Wind turbine & inverter

Tower (100 ft guyed)
Tower Wiring Kit
Shipping
Installation
Permits/Fees
Sales Tax, 2%

$27,900
$9,200
$1,000
$1,500
$8,000
$500
$952

$27,900
$31,950
$1,140
$2,000
$18,000
$6,000
9%

$27,900
$7,400
$860
$1,000
$2,000
$0
none

Total

$49,052

$94,279

$39,160

Small Wind Economics

Bergey Excel on 100ft Tower
Simple Payback
Bergey Excel, 100 ft Tower
Net Metering Only, 12.5 mph

Simple Payback, Years

50

Net Metering Only, 16 mph

40

USDA Grant and Net Metering, 12.5 mph

USDA Grant and Net Metering, 16 mph

30

20

10

0
5

11

13

15

Electric Rate, /kWh

16

Maintenance, Warranty, and Lifetime

Low Maintenance not No Maintenance
Inspection and maintenance every 1-2 years
Inspect mechanical and electrical connections, check for
corrosion, check guy wire tension, inspect/replace leadingedge tape, etc.
Beyond 10 years: blade or bearing replacement may be
needed

Warranties
2-5 years, coverage of materials and workmanship

Lifetimes of 15 to 30 years with regular maintenance

A wind turbine will see as many operating hours in
one year as an automobile will see in 200,000 miles!

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Role of Small Wind Certification Council

To certify that small wind turbines meet requirements of
AWEA Standard
To verify and certify test results
SWCC initial scope:
Newly manufactured turbines that fall under the IEC 614002 limit of 200 m2 swept area, about 65 kW
Grid-tied and off-grid turbines are eligible, but Standard
does not cover electric water pumping wind turbines
SWCC Board of Directors may consider expanding
certification to larger turbines at a later date

SWCC Certification Label

SWCC Rated Annual Energy
(@ one-year average wind speed of 11.2 mph may change)

SWCC Rated Sound Level

(level not exceeded 95% of time with average
wind speed of 11.2 mph)

SWCC Rated Power

(@24.6 mph)

Meets Safety and Durability Requirements

Small Wind (60 kW and less)

Certification Triad
the Standard

Test Organization
(field testing)

Certifies
Compliance

SWCC Certification Applications Pending

Manufacturer

Turbine

American Zephyr Corporation

Airdolphin GTO

Bergey Windpower Co.

Bergey 5kW & Bergey Excel-S

Cascade Engineering

Swift Wind Turbine

Endurance Wind Power Inc.

Endurance S-343

Enertech, Inc.

Enertech E13

Evance Wind Turbines Ltd.

Evance R9000

Eveready Diversified Products

Kestrel e400i 3kW 250V &

48Vdc

Polaris America LLC

P15-50

Potencia Industrial S.A.

10kW Hummingbird

Renewegy, LLC

Renewegy VP-20

Seaforth Energy

AOC 15-50

Southwest Windpower

Skystream 3.7

Taisei Techno Co.

TTK-10kW

UrWind

UrWind O2

Ventera Energy Corporation

Ventera VT10

Windspire Energy

Windspire 800040

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New Technology Questions

What is the performance?
Power curve or annual energy output
System performance (power to the grid)

Was this performance measured in a field test?

Not estimated, not from wind tunnel or truck testing

Has this performance been independently verified?

Is it labeled for compliance with UL 1741?
For safe interconnection to the utility grid

Is it compliant with an IEC design/safety standard?

Who can provide parts and service?
What is the warranty?
Where has it been demonstrated?
Is price estimated, or based on real manufacturing
experience?

Wind for Schools

http://windpoweringamerica.gov/schools

Tell me and I forget. Teach

me and I remember.
Involve me and I learn.
Benjamin Franklin

Wind Application Centers

A training and implementation center to educate engineers in wind applications:
Modeled after the DOE Industrial Application Centers
Develop a long-term program on wind energy applications; NREL/DOE provides
technical and financial support for 3 5 year start up phase
Provide data analysis, technical assistance and implementation support for Wind
for Schools projects
Become the go-to place for technical assistance for school and community wind
applications
Train engineers to enter the wind industry

For More Information

- Wind Powering America
www.windpoweringamerica.gov
- American Wind Energy Association www.awea.org
- Community Wind - Windustry - www.windustry.org
- Incentives www.dsireusa.org
- Small Wind Certification Council
- www.smallwindcertification.org
- North American Board of Certified Energy Practioners
www.nabcep.org
- Home Power Magazine www.homepower.com

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