Design and Manufacture of Auxiliary Components for Small Wind Turbines

Abstract

The U S Department of Energy and the World Wind Energy Association estimated that, as of the end of 2015 nearly 1 million Small Wind Turbines ( were operative around the world, providing almost 950 MW to diverse on and off grid systems 1 2 The world’s small wind energy market has shown annual growth rates that have ranged between 5 and 14 during the last decade and it is expected to grow at a minimum rate of 12 per year, reaching 1 9 GW of combined installed capacity by 2020 However, despite the increased demand for SWTs, the industry is facing new challenges, such as the higher cost of small wind relative to solar photovoltaics 3 the expiration of federal residential renewable energy tax credits, and the general downward trend in state incentive funding levels and programs Hence, there is a pressing need to make the small wind energy industry to thrive and remain an attractive solution.

The U S Department of Energy and the World Wind Energy Association estimated that, as of the end of 2015 nearly 1 million Small Wind Turbines ( were operative around the world, providing almost 950 MW to diverse on and off grid systems 1 2 The world’s small wind energy market has shown annual growth rates that have ranged between 5 and 14 during the last decade and it is expected to grow at a minimum rate of 12 per year, reaching 1 9 GW of combined installed capacity by 2020 However, despite the increased demand for SWTs, the industry is facing new challenges, such as the higher cost of small wind relative to solar photovoltaics 3 the expiration of federal residential renewable energy tax credits, and the general downward trend in state incentive funding levels and programs Hence, there is a pressing need to make the small wind energy industry to thrive and remain an attractive solution.