Community Wind

Our office divides wind turbines into three size groups: residential (3-20 kW), community (50 – 250 kW) and utility (660 – 2200 kW and up).  Here is a brief description of each.

Residential – Turbines in the 3 kW to 20 kW size range are often used in a net metering agreement with the utility.  Upper limits on net metering vary by state but generally cover all turbines in this size range.  The cost can run up to $10,000/kW installed, so they are rarely justified economically at today’s utility rates, but are rather a statement or a demonstration.

Community – Turbines in the 50 – 250 kW size range have multiple business and governmental applications: pivot sprinkler irrigation, sewage treatment plant aeration, pump stations, county court houses, schools, jails, etc.  They are sometimes grouped in fields to provide a combined name plate capacity of 5000 kW or more.  In cases where they can be behind the meter or in service to an interruptible supply, they can be very cost effective investments.  New turbines in this size range can be $4000/kW installed, but remanufactured turbines from old utility fields may approach new turbine reliability and be installed in the $1200/kW range.

Utility – 660 kW turbines are currently on the low end for utility sized units.  1500 kW units are most common in recently installed fields, but 2200 kW and larger units are coming.  Sizes are limited mainly by blade technology.  These are placed in fields of up to 1,000,000 kW (1000 MW) name plate capacity.  These are currently installed for ~$1800/kW.

We are focused on community sized wind for multiple reasons:

1. Community wind supports the economic vitality of rural communities.  Whereas utility fields are often owned and operated by foreign interests, community wind allows the local business and government to benefit directly from their own natural resources.  They represent and additional revenue stream to reduce taxes and provide additional services.
2. Remanufactured turbines put up two decades ago by utilities are now being replaced by much larger turbines.  By completely rebuilding and returning these units to community service, they are effectively recycled, representing a “double green” move for the environment.
3. Remanufactured turbines approach new turbines in terms of projected life and operation and maintenance, and are much less expensive.  As a result they “pencil out” in small rural applications with marginal wind resources and lower offset of utility prices.
4. Community wind is a source of civic pride and a positive demonstration of global awareness.
5. Communities often need only 1 to 2 MW.  Mobilization costs for installing a single utility class turbine are prohibitive.  Mobilization for installing an equivalent nameplate capacity of smaller turbines is much more cost effective.

The federal government is offering many economic incentives for development of community sized wind projects.  A cataloguing of  the programs is a worthwhile process for interested developers.  We are currently working with ranchers, Cities, Counties, Tribes, School districts, Universities and Utility Districts developing community wind installations.