Gaia-Wind small wind turbines incorporate more than 20 years of Danish wind industry design experience and include features that are typically only found in larger, utility scale wind generators: direct grid-connection; redundant safety systems; advanced turbine controller, amongst others. An oversized rotor enables the turbine to capture between 50-80% more wind energy than other similarly rated equipment.  The large rotor diameter also delivers increased performance in low to moderate wind speed conditions.  To date, there are over 200 worldwide Gaia-Wind installations. In the US, Gaia-Wind turbines qualify for the Small Wind Investment Tax Credit and are eligible for state funding in NY, WI, and NJ, with other areas soon to come.

Farmers, ranchers and rural business owners have until July 31, 2009 to apply for the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants. The grants provide funds to purchase and install small wind turbines (or other renewable energy systems).

Three of the five tests have been completed to date: safety and function, duration and power performance.  The Gaia-Wind turbine met the pass requirements for all tests.  Moreover, in terms of estimated annual power production, it outperformed its nearest comparable peer by a factor of nearly 3 to 1.  This result further validates the value proposition that Gaia-Wind is the ‘best performing small wind turbine in low to moderate wind speeds’.

The complete test report can be downloaded here.

Reducing barriers for SWTs to enter the market will provide consumers in a range of sectors (including residential, ranchers/farmers, business, and community applications such as schools, tribes, municipal utilities, and rural electric cooperatives) the opportunity to invest in indigenous energy, and contribute to the shift towards energy independence. The paper will report results of testing to date and put the test results in perspective for the average consumer. Other topics include a description of DOE’s intent for a second solicitation for Independent Testing, and a discussion of the DOE’s support for developing additional testing centers to conduct preliminary screening of SWTs to identify those turbines that are not ready for the commercial market.

Benefits and Learning Objectives
The Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory began testing small wind turbines through its Independent Testing project in 2008. This project was introduced to AWEA participants at Windpower 2008. The purpose of this paper is to report the available results from the testing completed to date and to put the test results in perspective for the average consumer. Reportable tests will include power performance, power quality, noise, safety and function, and duration (if completed). The paper will further explain how the results of these tests can be used by the Small Wind Certification Council, an organization being formed to certify small wind turbines. Small wind turbine certification will provide a higher degree of confidence for the U. S. consumer that the small wind turbines they are installing will perform as advertised.

Amy Bowen B.S., Electrical Test Engineer
National Renewable Energy Lab
1617 Cole Blvd.
Golden, CO, United States
Amy.Bowen@nrel.gov
(303) 384-6931

When: Thursday, May 7, 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Where: McCormick Place Convention Center – Room S103

www.windpowerexpo.org

Gaia-Wind’s participation at this prestigious event for the second year in row underlines our presence in the North American small wind turbine market, which started with the participation of a Gaia-Wind turbine in the Independent Testing Program for Small Wind Turbines conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Boulder, CO. The turbine has been in operation since May 2008 where it is being rigorously tested against 5 different IEC standards. Test results to date are positive and more than validate our advertised outstanding performance. They can be found on the NREL microsite.

Today the President signed into law the economic stimulus bill that includes a provision to uncap the federal small wind turbine Investment Tax Credit (ITC) originally passed last October. The removal of the cost caps on the small-wind ITC, the industry’s top legislative priority, will provide consumers with a true 30% tax credit for the purchase and installation of small wind turbines with rated capacities of 100 kilowatts or less. For a summary of the previous federal small-wind ITC passed in October, see www.awea.org/legislative/#SW.

The $787 billion stimulus bill contains a number of other provisions potentially benefitting small wind, such as:

• The option to receive a cash grant through the US Treasury in lieu of the ITC. Taxpayers that are eligible for an investment tax credit can receive an equivalent financial grant from the Department of Treasury instead of claiming the credit.
• An expansion of the Clean Renewable Energy Bond (CREB) program by $1.6 billion to finance facilities that generate electricity from a number of renewable resources, including wind.
• Expanded research and development funding of $1.25 billion through the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program.
• Workforce training for renewable energy and energy efficiency careers.
• A new loan guarantee program through the Department of Energy for “commercial” and “innovative” technologies related to generation, transmission, and manufacturing of certain energy equipment.
• Repeal of subsidized energy financing limitation on the ITC. Under current law, the amount of the investment tax credit must be reduced if the property qualifying for the investment tax credit is also financed with industrial development bonds or through any other Federal, state, or local subsidized financing program. The bill repeals this subsidized energy financing limitation on the investment tax credit in order to allow businesses and individuals to qualify for the full amount of the investment tax credit even if such property is financed with industrial development bonds, or through any other subsidized energy financing.
• A new competitive 30% manufacturing credit for investment in qualifying property used to “re-equip, expand, or establish” a manufacturing facility used to produce certain renewable energy equipment.
• Extension of bonus depreciation for businesses. Last year, Congress temporarily allowed businesses to recover the costs of capital expenditures made in 2008 faster than the ordinary depreciation schedule would allow by permitting these businesses to immediately write off fifty percent of the cost of depreciable property (e.g., equipment, tractors, wind turbines, solar panels, and computers) acquired in 2008 for use in the United States. The bill extends this temporary benefit for capital expenditures incurred in 2009.
• Five-year carryback of net operating losses for small businesses.

Further summary of these and other provisions will be available to AWEA members shortly. Thanks to AWEA Legislative staff Aaron Severn and Tom Vinson for their work in preparing these and forthcoming legislative summaries.

The annual AWEA small wind survey is also now fixed to include a field to submit feedback to AWEA. To respond, visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=5uuCgIAgzclMt6r_2bB1JUhg_3d_3d

Small Wind events calendar

For a comprehensive list of small-wind events around the country, see the Department of Energy’s Wind Powering America site at: http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/calendar.asp

Ron Stimmel

Small-Wind Advocate

American Wind Energy Association

1501 M St. Nw, 10th Floor

Washington, D.C. 20005

Ph: (202) 383-2546

For more information please go to here.

The NYSERDA certification is a further testament to Gaia-Wind’s excellent operational credentials.
Program applicants are assessed on a range of strict performance criteria.

Gaia-Wind turbines incorporate more than 20 years of Danish wind industry design experience.
To date, there are over 180 worldwide Gaia-Wind installations.

For more information please contact
Mark W. Loeser
New Jersey’s Clean Energy ProgramTM
c/o Vermont Energy Investment Corp.
75 Lincoln Hwy
Suite 100
Iselin, NJ 08830

732.218.4430 - Direct
866-NJSMART
732.634.8010 - Fax

December 2008

More details about actual rebate levels can be found in the following APPLICATION FORM

Gaia-Wind A/S was established nearly 20 years ago in Denmark. In 1996 the Gaia-Wind 11 kW turbine was the first turbine to receive the Danish HB certificate for small wind turbines. In 2006, Gaia-Wind relocated its administrative headquarters to Scotland in order to penetrate the UK and other international markets. The turbines continue to be manufactured in Denmark.

Gaia-Wind 11kW wind turbines have been developed according to “Danish design,” which incorporates more than 30 years of wind power industry experience and is the design basis for most utility-scale wind turbines in use today. Notable design elements include a gearbox, passive stall, three-tier safety system, tip brakes, amongst others. The turbine’s oversized rotor generates makes it suitable for low to moderate wind speed areas. In such wind regimes, the turbine generates an annual energy output that is superior to other machines with a comparable - and even higher - power rating.

In addition to the ongoing NREL program, Gaia-Wind is presently engaged in various initiatives intended to strengthen its presence in the US market. More specifically, the company is undergoing various certification processes in order to qualify for relevant state-sponsored grant schemes. In terms of marketing, Gaia-Wind is currently exhibiting at WindPower 2008 in Houston, and will participate in a number of similar events throughout the year.

Please refer to the company’s website, www.gaia-wind.com, for relevant news updates

The Gaia wind 11kw turbine at the NREL test site in Colorado