We will create 3 categories for wind power systems. We will primarily discuss the small size but all three have some similarities.

-Large: commercial grade Wind Turbines
-Medium: Windmill
-Small: Long Fan blade

How do wind power systems work?

A fan blade system is installed on top of a tower or on the roof of your home and collects kinetic energy and converts it to electricity to be used by your home.

The fan blades are connected to a shaft that is connected to a generator. When the blades turn fast enough the generator will produce electricity. In case of a storm and wind speeds are unusually high the system has breaks that slow the fan blades down to prevent damage to the generator.

Since wind is not under our control we must rely on both wind and local utility power. If wind speeds fall below 7 to 10 mph electricity will not be generated and the utility company will provide all electricity needs.

As the wind increases above 7 to 10 mph electricity is produced and the power purchased from the utility company decreases.

When more electricity is produced than the home will use the excess electricity is sold back to the utility company decreasing our dependency on nonrenewable energy.

How much money will this save me?

It is estimated that electricity bills can be lowered by 50 to 90% . It is very common for nine months of the year to have only an $8 to $15 dollar electric bill depending on wind speed and climate.

How much electricity will I have to produce?

The majority of homes use approximately 9,400 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year (about 780 kWh per month)

Depending on the wind speed and size of the home you would need to generate between 25 and 30 kWh per day.

Will I help the environment if I use wind power?

Yes! Wind power does not produce pollution like other sources of energy. Over it’s lifetime a wind power system can save approximately 1.2 tons of air pollutants and 200 tons of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and other gases which cause climate damage).

Some critics of wind power maintain that birds are negatively effected by wind power. Research has shown that wind power is much less dangerous to birds than power lines, vehicles and pesticides.

Will I need expensive wind surveys to know if I can save money with wind power?

Wind survey information is published by the U.S. Department of Energy and can be used to determine wind power performance. Unless you live in a very hilly or mountainous area the published information should be sufficient.

Will wind power interfere with my TV reception?

Wind systems do produce some noise. The typical system makes less noise than a washing machine and does not interfere with TV reception.

How much do wind power systems cost?

To purchase a large wind turbine system can cost from $6,000 to $22,000 installed depending on the size of the unit. Do it yourself or DIY systems can be as inexpensive as $150

Most systems have very few moving parts which makes the possibilities of a break down uncommon and operation completely automatic.

DIY systems provide considerable savings and complete hands on understanding of the system.

For maximum benefits savvy home owners use wind power and solar power.

Avoid The Mistakes of Wind Power Energy DIY
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shawna_Mac

AVN Energy are a leading supplier of actuators for wind turbines.

Dotted all over the green and rolling landscape of Denmark, where the idea for wind power originated, are wind turbines. This renewable energy source now accounts for 20 percent of the country’s electricity needs, more than anywhere else in the world.

After traveling two and half hours from Copenhagen, I arrived at AVN Energy in Silkeborg, where I was met by the Export Sales Manager, Poul Kristensen. He proudly showed me around his company’s production site, which has more than doubled in size in the last year.

“We’ve been involved in wind power since it began back in the 1980s,” says Poul. “At first the turbine producers came to us and told us what they wanted, but over time we gained a high level of expertise which allows us to recommend the optimum hydraulic system for their application.”

In continuous pitch systems, the pitch, the position of the nacelle and angles of the blades, constantly changes in small amounts once every rotation.

In the last few years wind turbine technology has changed. Previously the wind turbines were stall machines and their position would shift only once every ten minutes. Such turbines have been superceded by continuous pitch systems, where the pitch, the position of the nacelle and angles of the blades, constantly changes in small amounts once every rotation. That could be on average 15 times per minute.

“While this optimized the production of energy from the turbine, for us, the actuator manufacturer, it presented a real challenge,” continues Poul. “Instead of hydraulics producing six long strokes per hour, they now had to give nine hundred short strokes in the same period. And it’s not just the pitch which is continuous, it is also the turbine’s operation, with the actuators needing to initiate those strokes 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Customers have high expectations from our products, and the number one requirement of the wind turbine manufacturers is reliability. At first this was not the case. Initially demand for windmills was on a small scale, from farmers with a single turbine powering an individual generator. Then the power distributors became involved. They built relatively small wind farms and quality needs increased. Nowadays wind power is government backed and expansion is on a huge scale; the power suppliers are making the decisions and the demands. These big investors are not prepared to finance installations unless equipment can be guaranteed for 20 years with only the minimum of maintenance.

“Maintenance of turbines is difficult and costly,” says Poul. “On land it is hard enough, but offshore it is really tough. And when the windmill is switched off for maintenance, it is not producing energy and losing income. On top of that, operators are often penalized if supply targets are not met. So a primary objective for them is to minimize routine downtime, while stoppages due to component failure have to be avoided at all costs.”

AVN put a great deal of emphasis on research and development with over 20 percent of the 70 people employed at the Silkeborg site involved in R&D. “Here in R&D it’s not just about knowing the product, it’s about thinking about new solutions to the challenges imposed by turbine design and about finding new ways of doing things,” says Johnny Fruekilde from AVN’s Research and Development department.

“Meeting the target life of 20 years for an actuator required all our expertise, and initially it seemed almost unfeasible. If you imagine the actuator as a car, it’s a bit like saying to its manufacturer that you won’t buy his vehicle unless it can travel 500,000 kilometers without replacing the oil filter, brake pads or any other wearing parts. Yet we have strived to accomplish the impossible, and our actuators should provide the 20-year life span stipulated with very little maintenance.

“At the moment though, we are working a little in the dark when it comes to actual performance in application. The continuous pitch systems have only been around for three years so we are basing our expectations on extrapolating performance results from older generation wind turbines. This is combined with virtual modeling and long-term testing on individual elements of the system.”

Simulation programs are extensively used by AVN to specify the best hydraulic and actuation system for each design of wind turbine. Following on from this though, automated physical testing is a necessity. The conditions within the wind turbines are very specific to the application. This means that AVN needs to build test rigs to their own designs that can as closely as possible replicate the situation within the nacelle and hub.

“We know that the hydraulic system can only ever be as strong as its weakest link, and early on we realized that the reliability of the sealing configuration was highly dependent upon the quality of its counterparts,” continues Johnny. “So one area we have focused on is the interaction between the surface finish of the rods and shafts of the actuators and the sealing components. A special rig was constructed specifically to test this and operates 24-7.”

Typical sealing arrangement within a cylinder

The seals within the hydraulics are integral to its performance, and optimizing their life is critical to the long-term effectiveness of the total system. Several other specially built rigs are used to measure sealing characteristics, as the dynamic demands of the application are extreme.

“The requirements for sealing of the actuator for wind turbine applications were unique,” says Per Hvidberg, Sales Engineer from Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, Denmark. “Never before had I been faced with a demand for a sealing configuration on a cylinder that produced relatively rapid short strokes continuously. And not only was there linear pressure from the rear, there could be side load too.”

Per’s relationship with the engineering team at AVN goes back a long way and when asked to support them in development of continuous pitch actuators, he, the engineering team at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Helsingør and AVN worked together to come up with the best possible design.

“Within the actuators is a complex arrangement of seals ranging from O-Rings to specialist Turcon® PTFE based geometries and Slydring® in Orkot®,” says Per. “The unique configuration is specially engineered to enhance lubrication, optimize friction characteristics, and maximize service life, while preventing any external leakage. Some of the seals are expected to achieve the twenty year target, but it is impossible to guarantee this.”

“As this was the case,” says Johnny, “the hydraulics were designed for easy exchange of the seal set. This is mounted in a module that can be quickly bolted on and off. The minimum life expectancy of the sealing configuration, allowing for the seal that has the shortest predicted life, is seven years, but replacement is recommended after five. Other than this, and routine rod replacement, the actuators should run without maintenance except for the systematic checking that the operators do for any leakage or loss of pressure. We feel that this arrangement gives the ideal compromise between minimum required maintenance and guaranteed long-term performance. ”

Radial oil seals are commonly used within wind power applications

“Cleanliness of subcomponents is another important factor,” comments Poul. “Before assembly the system is flushed through to ensure there is no metal from machining or other debris such as dust or sand within the cylinder. Any residual matter such as this has been found to cause wear on the seals, shortening seal life and consequently total system life.

“The expanded factory has allowed us to construct a cleanroom. It’s not quite like the cleanrooms used in semiconductor or chemical processing, but it’s advanced in our type of manufacture. The cleanroom will be completely enclosed with barriers between it and the outside world and an extraction system to eliminate media that could potentially enter the actuator’s hydraulic system before it is enclosed.“

And what does the future hold for AVN?

“Growth and more growth,” says Poul. “We see the Silkeborg site expanding even further, but we are also supporting the turbine manufacturers as they enter booming wind power markets globally. We already have production facilities in India and are planning expansion in China and the US.”

Challenging requirements
The wind power actuator and its sealing system must be capable of operating at 250 bars/3625 psi with constant pressure on the rod from behind and differential side loads that control positioning. Seals must give minimal wear and facilitate dynamic movement that is continuous in short strokes, on average 900 times per hour.

Temperature resistance is needed down to -30°C/-22°F as standard and to -40°C/-40°F in the Artic. Below these temperatures the oil within the cylinder cannot function and requires warming with heating elements. Maximum temperature is 60°C/140°F. Beyond this the system is cooled, otherwise the oil becomes stressed, its viscosity is too low, and it carbonizes.

In addition, the actuators must withstand high humidity, salt spray and the rigors of wind and rain. Corrosion is prevented with advanced coating technology.

Maintenance – a daring occupation
It’s hard to imagine when you look at a wind turbine that the nacelle, or the structure that houses all the turbine’s generating components for the blades, is large enough for a man to stand up in. It has to be, because for maintenance the engineer has to enter this either through the side, but more commonly by climbing to the top of the tower, and down into the nacelle from there. That’s not easy 100 meters/330 feet high on land and even more daring when the turbines are up to 100 kilometers/60 miles out at sea.

Wind turbines: Facts and figures
The wind turbine tower is between 35 and 120 meters/115 to 395 feet high with blades of 12 to 60 meters/40 to 195 feet in length. These are attached to a nacelle which is over two meters/7 feet high and that can rotate 360 degrees on top of the tower. Each of the three curved blades of the turbine is positioned by an independently operated actuator with a stroke of 1.2 to 1.5 meters/4 to 5 feet and can be tilted through 90 degrees.

The higher the turbine and larger the blade size, the greater the megawatts of electricity produced each hour. The smallest turbines are producing one megawatt per hour while the largest yield up to five megawatts. In Europe most turbines are between 1.5 and 2.6 megawatts. The biggest used on land is 3.6 megawatts, with a number installed offshore between

4.5 and 5 megawatts. In Asia the trend has been for larger wind farms with smaller wattage turbines.
Bigger turbines are not always better; it depends on the size of the wind farm, the stability of the electricity grid it supplies and the promised output. So in some cases it is beneficial to have the option of shutting off a lower production source than a higher one, even though there are economies of scale in running a high output turbine compared to a smaller one.
On top of a turbine tower are two wind sensors checking wind direction and speed. One is the primary input and the second for backup. On installation the nacelle of the turbine is positioned inline with the predominant wind direction. Based on complex arithmetic calculations the wind turbine’s control system take the sensors input, and automatically yaws, or turns the nacelle to the wind, the actuators tilting each blade independently. Positioning is precise, to exacting tolerances, thereby optimizing energy production in the wind condition. The movement is calculated for every rotation, which may be 15 times per minute, continuously for 24 hours, seven days per week.

When choosing a site for a wind farm, analysis must prove it to have 2,500 hours of wind at 12 meters/39 feet per second over a year to make them viable to the utility companies. Wind turbines will normally operate from three meters/ 10 feet per second to 25 meters/80 feet per second, with the optimum wind speed being between 12 to 15 meters/40 to 50 feet per second. Though designed to withstand speeds up to 50 meters/165 feet per second, the control system will counter over rotation for speeds of over 25 meters/80 feet per second due to safety concerns.

The utility companies target 98 percent utilization with two percent allowance for maintenance. The turbines can be switched on and off remotely from control rooms anywhere in the world. This is done for maintenance or in response to grid changes.

On the stall turbines a braking mechanism is employed to stop the windmill. On the new larger turbines this can stress the tower, so tilting a single blade to 90 degrees normally stops them. In an emergency situation this method plus a brake will be employed. In these circumstances the windmills are stationary in well under a minute. The brake, in all cases, then holds the blades in position.

Green dreams result in 95% renewable energy
A 24-hour mains electricity supply finally arrived in February 2008 for residents of the Isle of Eigg, which lies in the Small Isles archipelago off Scotland’s west coast. So remote, it previously had to rely on expensive diesel generators to run homes. Now operational, a £1.6 million renewable energy system, which includes hydro, wind and solar power, is expected to generate more than 95 percent of its annual energy demand.

It has taken a decade for the islanders’ green dream to be realized. The idea was first raised after the community of less than 100 people bought the island from its previous owner in 1997. Now, a total of 45 households, 20 businesses and six community buildings are linked together by six miles of buried cable that form a high voltage network. This proves the future really can be renewable.

For more information contact: donna.guinivan@trelleborg.com

PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga.– Callaway Gardens, a 13,000-acre destination comprised of award-winning gardens, upscale lodge and spa, recreation and residential communities all focusing on connecting man with nature, has offset all of its electricity use with renewable energy by purchasing 21,000,000-kilowatt hours of renewable energy credits (RECs). As a leader in environmental stewardship, Callaway is the Southeast’s first resort to embrace wind energy with a 100 percent annual commitment.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that this purchase helps avoid the same amount of CO2 emissions produced by nearly 2,990 passenger vehicles annually or the electricity use of 2,162 average American homes. The renewable power being produced from off-sight energy farms is not only less polluting but helps conserve the nation’s natural resources.

“Since our inception in the 1930s, Callaway Gardens has been committed to environmental education and land stewardship,” said Edward Callaway, chairman and CEO of Callaway Gardens. “Our organization is proud to be at the forefront of enhancing awareness and educating our visitors, our region and the country on wind power and how together we can make a positive impact for future generations.”

As the 2007 recipient of the Argon Award for Success in Sustainability from Southface Institute, Callaway Gardens has provided an environmentally friendly getaway by enacting on-property recycling programs and water conservation measures such as cultivating native plantings to minimize water use, offering EarthCraft House™ homes and providing natural bath products in the guest rooms and suites. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified Lodge and Spa even goes as far as using refillable shower dispensers – saving nearly 150,000 plastic containers each year – and housekeeping chemicals that are certified as “green” by the GreenSeal Organization.

“Callaway Gardens’ choice to support renewable energy is great news for the industry and is the fifth largest commitment by a resort in the country,” said Quayle Hodek, CEO of Renewable Choice Energy. “Wind power helps supports rural communities and increases energy independence. We’re thrilled that Callaway Gardens is committed to wind energy and spreading the word about its importance.”

The AeroCam, developed by BroadStar Wind Systems, was designed and patented for commercial applications. With its parallel rotor blades, not only does it look radically different from conventional propeller designs, but also can be manufactured, transported, installed and maintained at lower cost.

“Wind energy now can be made directly available to everyone,” says Stephen Else, president of Dallas-based BroadStar Wind Systems. “By harnessing its power in almost any setting, the AeroCam can now generate energy close to where it’s actually required. This is a new and exciting product with great potential.”

Following four years of research and development and the issuance of U.S. patents, the company is currently in the final stages of negotiations to place the product with two Fortune 100 companies.

BroadStar is also making its very first public appearance by presenting its AeroCam turbine at the WindPower 2008 conference and trade exhibition organized by the wind energy industry. The four-day event takes place in Houston, often referred to as the energy capital of the world, where experts and professionals will gather to debate the future growth of the industry.

“It’s a great opportunity to make our debut and share the unique benefits of the AeroCam with industry experts and a variety of potential customers, including wind farms, urban developers and government bodies,” says Else. “There’s a similar event in London later in the year, where we’ll introduce our new wind turbine to the European market.”

Until now, generating energy from wind power has been primarily limited to rural areas large enough to accommodate conventional turbines. The AeroCam design is more compact and can be discretely enclosed making wind power generation possible in a greater variety of locations.

The new design is based on principles first established by the French aeronautical engineer Georges Jean Marie Darrieus (1888-1979), who invented a wind turbine capable of operating from any direction and under adverse weather conditions. Darrieus machines typically have a vertical axis, whereas the AeroCam design has a horizontal axis with multiple blades, giving it the appearance of a water wheel.

The major innovation in the design, however, is the ability to automatically and interactively adjust the pitch or angle of attack of the aerodynamic blades as the turbine rotates, thereby optimizing its performance for much the same reasons a bird changes the shape of its wing in flight.

The new AeroCam wind turbine enables distributed power generation in almost any setting, including densely populated urban areas and unconventional sites such as commercial developments and corporate campuses.

In addition, there is a unique and significant opportunity to increase capacity of existing wind farms. These take up relatively large amounts of land, but typically less than 5 per cent of that area is occupied by turbines, roads and other infrastructure. Because the AeroCam is smaller and sits closer to the ground, and can capture abundant surface-wind energy without disrupting the smooth airflows that taller and larger propeller-based turbines need to operate effectively, it offers a practical, economical way to infill existing farms for greater overall power generation.

“It all adds up to a solution that delivers more power and more choice of location,” says Else, “with a lower total cost of acquisition and ownership and a faster payback period. The AeroCam has the potential to equip almost every local community, business and government building with its own renewable energy power station and it can supplement existing turbines.”

BroadStar’s technical achievement delivers a 250kW machine for $250,000 and is the first to break through the $1/watt cost barrier, which is unprecedented in the industry. Previously, the best that could be achieved in the U.S. was $1.38 and in Europe $2 of capital investment for every watt of power capacity installed.

Also more economical than most other available renewable energy solutions, including solar panels, the AeroCam enables communities to more easily and cost-effectively establish their own local power generation source or offset the energy they purchase from the grid, selling any excess energy generated back to the electric utility companies.

“In essence, our efficient aerodynamic design lends itself to smaller wind turbines, which can operate closer to the ground or on a rooftop. They can handle a wide range of wind velocities, anywhere between 4 and 80 mph. They generate their power at lower rotational speed, so there is less noise and vibration hence less wear and tear. But most importantly the AeroCam can be manufactured at a lower cost than conventional turbines. This makes the overall economic argument very compelling.

“Today there are very few turbines in the 100 to 500-kilowatt class,” says Else. “This is due to the high cost of ownership and maintenance of existing commercial designs now evolving into a super wind turbine class of 6-megawatt machines with blades exceeding 50 meters in diameter.

“This all works well assuming unlimited transmission line capacity. Unfortunately, transmission bottlenecks are becoming one of the single biggest issues for conventional wind farms, which tend to be located in remote areas where the electricity grid infrastructure was never designed to transmit the amount of energy that can now be generated and which is now required.

“The AeroCam wind turbine realizes the economic benefit of being able to place wind turbines locally, where the energy is needed and can complement existing energy sources.”

About BroadStar Wind Systems

Founded in 2004 by Stephen Else and Tom Stephens, BroadStar Wind Systems, with offices in Dallas, Beijing and Coventry, England, is an engineering and technology firm, comprised of experts in aerodynamics and turbine physics, which has developed its breakthrough technology solution for the efficient and affordable generation of wind power. With its scientifically proven and aerodynamically efficient AeroCam turbine, BroadStar makes wind-power generation more accessible and affordable, and delivers a measurable return on investment more quickly than competitive solutions. For additional information and downloadable images, visit www.broadstarwindsystems.com.

“We are so pleased with the Department of Energy’s ranking and recognition of PECO WIND,” said Denis O’Brien, president and CEO of PECO. “We believe in providing our customers with many choices, including a choice in how their electricity is generated. We, along with the nearly 40,000 customers who have chosen PECO WIND, understand the importance of investing in electricity generated by alternate methods.”

Since its launch in May 2004, PECO WIND has become one of the largest and fastest growing green power programs in the country. The 2007 environmental benefit is the same as planting about 12 million trees or not driving 157 million miles. Provided through a partnership with wind energy marketer Community Energy, Inc., PECO WIND is a clean, environmentally-friendly wind power option for customers.

Brent Alderfer, president of Community Energy, Inc., PECO’s wind energy supply partner, said: “The PECO WIND program leads the field in so many ways, it’s not surprising to see it continue to be listed on the Department of Energy’s top 10 programs. PECO and its customers have put Pennsylvania on the map with new, clean wind generation.”

The first wind product offered by a utility in Pennsylvania, PECO WIND is available to PECO’s residential and business customers in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia and York counties and is supplied by a new wind power facility in Waymart, PA, near the Poconos. PECO WIND is offered to residential customers in 100-kilowatt hour (kWh) blocks for an additional monthly fee of about $2.50 per block, added directly to customers’ monthly PECO bill. For more information about PECO WIND call 1-866-WIND-321, or visit www.pecowind.com.

Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE:EXC). PECO serves 1.6 million electric and 480,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania and employs about 2,500 people in the region. PECO delivered 78.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 39.9 billion kilowatt-hours-hours of electricity in 2007. Founded in 1881, PECO is one of the Greater Philadelphia Region’s most active corporate citizens, providing leadership, volunteer and financial support to numerous arts and culture, education, environmental, economic development and community programs and organizations.

In the paper titled “Scenic Perceptions of the Visual Effects of Wind Farms in South Australian Landscapes”, over 300 participants rated the scenic qualities of 68 photographed landscapes with, and without, digitally added wind farms.

Author Dr. Andrew Lothian says, “While people may be apathetic the appearance of wind farms, their location is critical. Wind farms in scenic areas, particularly the coastal areas, are regarded as damaging to the landscape. However, in agricultural areas of low scenic quality, wind farms seem to beautify the otherwise mediocre surroundings.”

The research also finds that the negative visual effects did not reduce with distance or size of the farm and people tend to prefer turbines that are white, blue or grey over tan and rainbow-colours.

Wind farms have been constructed all over the world as a way to increase the generation of renewable energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The main opposition to the construction of wind farms is based on the negative visual impact they have on the landscape.

This study adds to a growing body of international research on community attitudes to wind farms, and contributes useful knowledge for the planning and design of wind farms by taking into account community perceptions.-Wiley-Blackwell

Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into useful forms, such as electricity, using wind turbines. In windmills, wind energy is directly used to crush grain or to pump water. At the end of 2007, worldwide capacity of wind-powered generators was 94.1 gigawatts. Although wind currently produces just over 1% of worldwide electricity use, it accounts for approximately 19% of electricity production in Denmark, 9% in Spain and Portugal, and 6% in Germany and the Republic of Ireland (2007 data). Globally, wind power generation increased more than fivefold between 2000 and 2007.

The deployment of offshore wind power can be considered to have happened in two phases to date. The first phase involved a series of small demonstration projects generally constructed in sheltered shallow waters from 1995 to 2000. The second phase was for projects, which still had a demonstration role, but which were of an increasingly commercial nature and were developed in more technically demanding situations between 2000 and 2004. In the year 2000, seven mostly small-scale demonstration projects were operational. By 2004, the industry had developed 15 projects many of them large-scale and fully commercial.

The estimated cost of offshore wind energy varies widely depending on the project, but some studies indicate that offshore projects cost significantly more than land-based turbine systems. Much of the premium that is now being paid for offshore systems can be attributed to higher costs for foundations, installation, operation and maintenance.

As wind turbines are adapted for offshore, the process of achieving favourable economics depends less on reducing wind turbine costs and more on a full system life cycle cost approach.

The report on Offshore Wind Energy is a complete analysis of the global offshore wind energy industry, with special focus on the United States and Europe, the leaders in offshore wind energy developments today. The report analyzes the technology, barriers to the development of offshore wind energy, regulatory framework, country-wide market analysis, and a profile of the major industry players.

Companies Mentioned:
Cielo Wind Power
Enercon
FPL Energy
Gamesa Eolica
GE Energy
PPM Energy
Renewable Energy Systems
Shell Renewables
Suzlon Energy
Siemens
Vestas Wind Systems

Hancock, MA – EOS Ventures, LLC announced it’s partnership in a press conference today with Sustainable Energy Developments, Inc. (SED). The partnership brings SED and Brian Fairbank, co-owner of Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, full circle in the renewable energy industry.

On August 15th, 2007 the then 12-person staff of (SED) gathered a top Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort to celebrate it’s biggest accomplishment. Biggest in size that is - it was the ribbon cutting of Jiminy’s 1.5 megawatt wind turbine, a project SED developed from the initial feasibility study to construction management during the installation. After the celebration the SED management team, made up of seven James Madison University alumni, headed back to headquarters fully knowing it would not be their final venture with Brian Fairbank, co-owner of Jiminy.

That brings us to present day, SED sits comfortably in a new office with a now 17-person staff, a new look on the website, 10 large scale projects in the 2008 calendar, and now a strategic alliance with EOS Ventures, LLC. EOS provides a one-stop resource for project expertise, management and ownership to install a turn-key alternative energy unit at your site via a long long-term power purchase agreement.

Brian Fairbank announced his neweast endeavor into the renewable energy industry today. EOS is a company co-owned with his son and former president of the Berkshire Economic Development Corp. Tyler Fairbank as well as co-owner of Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort Joseph O’Donnell. Tyler Fairbank, who will serve as CEO of the company, along with the other two owners have called upon SED to develop and construct wind power projects.

Jiminy’s wind turbine generated more media exposure than Brian Fairbank thought possible. During the installation process and once the blades started spinning he received calls, e-mails, letters and even visits from people who wanted to make their companies, schools, municipalities and farms more sustainable. “More than three years ago, we embarked on a journey and we didn’t know where it was going to take us. We took the fork less traveled and boy, has it made all the difference,” Brian Fairbank said. “We had no idea we were paving the way for something new and exciting and setting an example for others to follow.”

Both Tyler and Brian have seen the positive results of wind energy and along with SED share the same thoughts on the need for building a more sustainable Massachusetts, Northeast United States and world. “With the need to stabalize energy costs and supply it is simply not a good enough reason to say we don’t want to see wind turbines anymore,” said Kevin Schulte, Co-owner and Vice President for Business Development of SED. “I am very excited that in the spirit of SED, founded by a group of old college friends, we can be apart of this exciting new venture with EOS, another group of friends.”

The 1st Edition of Offshore Wind Power report is a 75-page overview of how and why offshore wind power is set to become a major contributor to global power production.

Wind power has been the fastest growing industry in the world over the last decade and most wind energy is produced onshore. However, a number of challenges have arisen that make continued onshore wind power deployment more difficult. This has opened the door for offshore wind power development. Offshore wind turbines take advantage of wind speeds which are more constant and stronger than those on land. Larger turbines are used, which translates into greater energy production. Since many large load centers are located near coasts, turbines can be installed closer to load, decreasing transmission losses and reducing congestion. The placement of turbines over-the-horizon and undersea transmission lines eliminate many of the aesthetic concerns that are common with onshore turbines.

Offshore Wind Power aims to provide the reader with an understanding of the market potential for offshore wind, the challenges that must be overcome in deploying this technology, and current development of offshore wind projects.

Topics covered in the report include:

-Overview of wind power including its modern history

-Discussion of how offshore differs from onshore wind power

-Analysis of the development of offshore wind power

-Evaluation of the market potential for offshore wind power

-Description of offshore wind power technology including differences with onshore technology and developments needed to improve offshore technology

-Analysis of the economics of offshore wind power including a comparison to onshore costs

-Evaluation of the challenges to implementing offshore wind power

-Description of the permitting process for offshore wind in both the U.S. and Europe

-Description of economic incentives available for offshore wind in both the U.S. and Europe

-Profiles of major offshore wind projects in commercial operation or under development

-Profiles of major offshore wind project developers and turbine manufacturers

For more information, visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c84526

GE Energy will supply RES with nearly 500 megawatts of new wind energy capacity, and will provide commissioning and operations services as well as maintenance support. “Throughout the United States we continue to witness strong interest in the production of cleaner, wind-generated electricity,” said Victor Abate, vice president-renewables for GE Energy. “We are pleased that RES has selected our well-proven, 1.5-megawatt technology to help the company reach its build-out goals for the years ahead.”

RES Americas is part of U.K.-based Renewable Energy Systems, one of the world’s leading renewable energy developers and a leader in the global wind industry for two decades. Since 1997, RES Americas has been a leader in the U.S. wind industry, either developing or constructing more than 12 percent of the country’s installed wind energy capacity.

“We look forward to building our equipment supply relationship with GE, and view it as critical to achieving our goals for expanded ownership of wind projects in the US,” said Craig Mataczynski, President of RES Americas.

The latest agreement with RES reinforces GE’s leadership role in the rapidly growing wind industry. Since 2004, GE has achieved a 500 percent increase in wind turbine production, and its wind business revenues exceeded $4.5 billion in 2007. According to the American Wind Energy Association, over the past two years, GE has supplied wind turbines representing nearly half of the new wind capacity across the United States.

GE’s 1.5-megawatt wind turbine is among the most widely used machines in the global wind industry, with more than 8,000 installed around the world.

GE’s wind turbine technology is a key element of ecomagination, the GE corporate-wide initiative to address challenges such as the need for cleaner, more efficient sources of energy, reduced emissions and abundant sources of clean water.

About GE Energy

GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2007 revenue of $22 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE’s corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.

With wind turbine design, manufacturing and assembly facilities in Germany, Spain, China, Canada and the United States, GE Energy is among the leading providers of wind energy products and support services ranging from commercial wind turbines and grid integration products to project development assistance and operation and maintenance. The company’s knowledge base includes the development and/or installation of more than 8,400 wind turbines with a total rated output of more than 11,300 megawatts.

About RES Americas:

Renewable Energy Systems Americas (RES-Americas) has been active in the US market since 1997 and has had a role in developing or constructing more than 12% of the operating wind projects in the United States and greater than 20% of the installed wind capacity in the state of Texas. RES-Americas corporate office is located in Austin, Texas, with regional offices located in Portland, OR, Minneapolis, MN, and Montreal, Quebec, Canada. RES-Americas continue to seek new locations for wind projects as well as opportunities to participate in other forms of renewable energy. For more information, please visit www.res-americas.com.