Developing Wind Energy Projects: Success Stories from the Field

Distributed Energy Wind Generators

Andy Kruse

Southwest Windpower - Who We AreSouthwest Windpower - Who We Are

• Founded in 1987 • 15,000+ turbines manufactured annually• Over 170,000 turbines shipped and installed

worldwide• Sales representation in over 88 countries• Installations in 120 countries• Fully integrated company: R&D, Design,

Manufacturing, Sales & Service

Flagstaff, Arizona Mfg. Facility

Cologne, Germany (Sales and Service)

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What We DoWhat We Do

AIR Breeze Whisper 100 Skystream 3.7

AIR is a 200-400 watt wind generator. More than 140,000 AIR’s have been produced over theLast 12 years

The Whisper line ranges from 900-3000 watts. Whisper’s are installed in more than 100 countries. Over 14,000 Whispers have been produced.

Skystream is a 2400 watt inverter based wind turbine. Introduced in 2007, to date, 7500 turbines have been installed throughout all 50 States

Battery charging ($600-900 USD) Battery Charging ($2800-7500 USD) Grid Connected ($6500 USD)3

The ProcessThe Process

Before a Project BeginsBefore a Project Begins

• Site wind resource• Property characteristics• Project economics• Utility interconnection agreements• Local Zoning/permitting

The quality of today’s wind maps are far better than those of a few years ago. Wind maps are used to determine the potential resource.

Most important: Identifying the Most important: Identifying the Wind ResourceWind Resource

Resources: http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov http://www.3-tier.com

1985

2010

Property ConsiderationsProperty Considerations

Important Factors

• Appropriate land available• Obstacles (building & trees)• Terrain• Soil conditions

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EconomicsEconomics

But…

The decision to invest in a small wind turbine or solar often is not solely about straight economics.

Economics – Reduce or eliminate monthly electric bill Control – Being less dependent on the utilityClimate Change – Concerned with environmental issues and wanting to make a statementNational Security – Concerned over the county’s growing dependence on foreign energy

1) Straight Payback2) ROI as compared to bank interest rates

Federal and State IncentivesFederal and State Incentives

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State Incentives:1)State Tax Deductions2)Up to a 50% rebate in many States

Federal Incentives1)30% ITC for consumers2)30% for business as well as depreciation

Resources incentive database: www.dsireusa.org

State and Federal incentives can reduce the cost of a wind system by up to 70%

Utility InterconnectionUtility Interconnection Federal law (PURPA) requires that all utilities

allow customer-owned generators to interconnect with the grid

Most states have in place net metering and interconnection agreements

Off-grid systems do not need to notify the utility

The latest interconnection standard is IEEE-1547. The manufacturer must be able to provide a certificate

Resources: www.dsireusa.org (Provides list of utility interconnection agreements) www.irecusa.org (Provides examples of friendly interconnection agreements)

ZoningZoning

Most zoning districts do not have an established ordinance for small wind.

Changing or creating a new zoning ordinance can be a time consuming complicated process.

In order to drive local communitiesTo participate in state renewableMandates, some states are adoptingPreemption laws.

The Zoning Issue is The Zoning Issue is about towersabout towers

Towers are necessary to get the wind generator into the wind. Small wind generators must be installed on towers that are 25-30’ above any surrounding object within 300’ of the tower.

Typical tower heights for small wind generators range from 42’ to 120’

Restrictions in most counties limit tower heights to 35’.

Resources: www.awea.org/smallwind/documents/modelzo.html www.planning.org (American Planning Association)

ConclusionConclusion The first installation in a

place is always the most challenging.

Thereafter the process forfuture installs becomeseasy.

Questions?Questions?

Southwest Windpower, Inc.1801 West Route 66

Flagstaff, Arizona 86001

Web: www.windenergy.com

Andy Kruse

VP – Business Development

Andy@windenergy.com

““Renewable Energy Made Simple”Renewable Energy Made Simple”

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