A spin-off of the TU Delft has a quiet and relatively affordable ‘plug-and-play wind turbine has been developed. After four years of research and testing, the small wind turbine on the market, in the first instance, for companies.
The Windchallenge 1.7, such as the wind turbine is baptized, weighs 10 pounds and has a wingspan of 1.7 metres. Therefore, the windmill can easily on roofs, and for example, light poles and greenhouses can be placed. “There is no crane needed for assembly, the mill is not nagelvast and is, therefore, advised to move.” Thus Eline Mertens, director of Windchallenge BV. According to the manufacturer keeps the noise under 50dB, noise is still hard to hear. “During tests in the Westland, it was not possible to measure the noise level due to the air conditioning on the roof was. That made more noise than the wind turbine.”
The mill produces around 500kWh per year at an average wind speed of 4 metres per second and 900kWh at an average wind speed of 6m/s. That yield is also achieved because the blades of the mill to their position tuning in the wind speed and direction. The position of the blades also changes when it’s windy, so there is not too much force on the construction. The average wind speed in the Netherlands, incidentally, is 2.2 m/s in the interior and 5.6 m/s at the coast.
In the first instance, Windchallenge the business market. “On and around business building is often a lot of wind,” says Mertens. “In addition, the wind turbine is beneficial for the business market in order to meet different certificates, such as the CO2 performance Ladder.”
The windmill is fully produced in the Netherlands and is on sale from 5.100 euro, excluding vat. With the current flow rates would be without subsidies may take a few decades before this aanschafbedrag is recouped. According to Mertens, companies can through a variety of jars to be eligible for a maximum of about 2000 euro grant, the payback period would be lower. Mertens proposes that the purchase price ‘in the long term”, especially by mass production, down which the payback eventually, once about seven years, would have to lie.
Update, 16:19: In the article was that Mertens stated that the payback period is seven years. I learned that this won’t be the case. The article is updated accordingly.
