FARGO, N.D. – A new company in Fargo, North Dakota, has set out to debunk the belief that wind-generated electricity is affordable only for giant utility companies or wealthy tree-hugging professors and doctors.
At this year’s Big Iron show in Fargo, Bill Schwankl of Alternative Energy Services had a new Ventura 10 kilowatt wind turbine on display carrying a price tag of $18,000.
The tower, depending on the required height, costs an additional $5,000 to $15,000. Towers for the Ventura range from 60 to 100 feet.
Towers for wind turbines typically range from 30 feet for small alternator turbines up to 120 feet. In calculating tower specifications, Schwankl said he factors in wind load and concrete footing requirements.
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Schwankl said these prices bring wind generated electrical power within the grasp of farmers and other rural residents who want to reduce their dependence on purchased power.
“The Ventura 10 kw is a permanent magnet style of alternator. Basically, it’s like a big automobile alternator. It even looks like one,” Schwankl said.
“It’s considered to be a small turbine. The power runs through an inverter that makes it compatible with your standard utilities. It’s designed and built to be user friendly…. The idea is a farmer can buy it and install it himself.”
He added that the Ventura has a reputation for reliability, with the basic automobile alternator design dating back to 1974 when the first one was installed on a radio station in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.
“It’s very simple and very reliable. It has two grease zerks, which the manufacturer suggests you go up the tower and grease once every couple years. That’s all.”
The other wind turbine Schwankl had at Big Iron was a rebuilt 40 kw, an example of the kind of unit refurbished from California wind farms after they replace their turbines with bigger ones. The 40 kw ones are brought back to new condition before being sold to farmers and other clients who need more than 10 kw.
Prices on the 40 kw turbines start at $90,000 including the engineering, tower and installation. This turbine generator produces 60 cycle AC current, which is compatible with standard utilities, directly from the unit. No inverter is needed.
“The 40 kw machine needs preventive maintenance once every 90 days, which requires going up the tower.
“It does have lots of self-diagnostic components that link the turbine to the computer down in the control room at the base of the tower. It senses vibration and cable twist. It feathers the blades when the wind exceeds 30 miles per hour.
“Also, it has a lot of individual components that you remove and replace, so you don’t bring the whole machine up and down the tower. You just change parts up there.”
It also has a big disc brake that shuts it down for maintenance or if there’s a big windstorm.
Schwankl said climbing a tower with a toolbelt can be intimidating for a lot of people, especially if they are not familiar with wind turbine maintenance.
There is an optional climber rail for people who are nervous. Also, the company is working on adapting tilt-down towers that will eliminate the need for climbing.
“We recognize that farmers are not electrical engineers. That’s why we can provide the full range of services, from initial engineering right through to full maintenance.
“We can take a project to whatever level the customer wants. Anything from just drawing up the specs and plans so a farmer can do it all himself. Or all the way to a complete turnkey operation with maintenance.”
Schwankl got started in the renewable energy business when he set up wind turbines in the Red River Valley from 1981 to 1986, many of which are still spinning out electricity today. He then specialized in turbine blades for the first generation of California wind farms. He said there are wind turbines on 30 farms from southern Minnesota to eastern North Dakota. They include dairy and hog operations and grain handling systems.
Contact Bill Schwankl at ownthewind@aol.com.
