wind turbines

G

georgios

New member
Oct 2, 2004
201
2
0
Windpower in Azua

I don't have pricing available for my wind turbines yet. My plans are to
manufacture them in the DR except misc electronic components to be
imported from North America. Initial estimates regarding pricing is approx
35% less than Bergey USA, mainly due to low manufacturing labour cost, shipping and the unavoidable adventure of
customs clearing into DR. Of course the low labour cost also applies not
only to fabrication but to the installation as well. If you visit www.bergey.com
and look at pricing, nearly 25% goes towards installation with the current
wage rate of $35 hr. Comparing this rate to DR local labour cost will
benefit the DR consumer due to lower pricing of the equipment.

My turbines will also be compatible with inverters, batteries, regulators,
transfer switches etc currently used in DR homes for storing power
from "the grid". Investing on a 10 kw unit, on the long run, is the wise
choise due to rising fuel cost which means higher electricity bills. The
turbine is projected to pay it self in 7 years depending on a good wind
site. A good wind site means that the turbine will be turning for about
3000 hours per year. Danish turbines (offshore) reach 2500 hrs/yr, a
yield acceptable for Denmark, the leader in wind energy.

Have in mind, when a 10kw turbine is on, it will power everything in the
house and charge batteries much faster than a 1kw turbine or solar
panels or even the grid.

Thanks for your question. I hope you have a better picture now and
other DR1ers reading this post understand better how wind turbines
can save money and provide the elusive electrical power they need.

Saludos...Georgios.
 
G

georgios

New member
Oct 2, 2004
201
2
0
Solar innovation.

221 said:
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6802
Click to expand...

Hello 221,

It appears you spent hours on the web reading stuff like this amazing
article above. I do the same thing every day, when I get some free
time from turbine develpment. Check out otherpower.com, a lot of
interesting experiments and talk is happening at the discussion board.

I am designing my own alternator after a lot of research into electro-
magnetism. Using the common prop blades? TOO EASY. My blade
design will outsmart all others...can't give more info till patern is
issued.

Saludos muchacho...Georgios. Felix Navidad tambien.
 
J

jaimeespinar

Guest
Rewable Energy Farms versus ecotourism

Dear All,
I am interested in renewable energy and the long-term benefits of renewable energy farms. Here in Spain we are not reaching the Kyoto Protocol which allows CO2 emisson increase by 15%, but CO2 emissions have already increased 38% in 2002.
As in many areas of Europe, there are some new wind-farm developments. I am wondering whether photovoltaic farms could also be used in this fashion (to sell energy to conventional electricity companies). I imagine the visual and environmental impacts are important to protect the area. However, clean energy may be sustainable and could cover initial costs in the long-term in my opinion.
One of the disadvantages in the DR, and please tell me if i am wrong, may be that many people do not pay their electricity bills.......... so i guess this may only start with an economically favourable future perspective....
High wind speed sites advice are interesting, which i guess may be in the Punta Cana, NE and Northern part of the country... also to minimise damage to local vegetation and local scenery, a closer look into the more arid sectors such as i guess the SW and future development in the Barahona area.......
I am also interested in eco-friendly tourism and I am wondering which of these two sectors (wind and/or photovoltaic solar energy farms and ecotourism) may be more financially sustainable or whether they could exist together, taking into account local and social aspects too. For example a contribution with ENERSOL for local less economically able residents (in case tourism profits were viable altogether).
I am open to advice.
Thanks,
jaimeespinar
 
G

georgios

New member
Oct 2, 2004
201
2
0
jaimeespinar said:
Dear All,
I am interested in renewable energy and the long-term benefits of renewable energy farms. Here in Spain we are not reaching the Kyoto Protocol which allows CO2 emisson increase by 15%, but CO2 emissions have already increased 38% in 2002.
As in many areas of Europe, there are some new wind-farm developments. I am wondering whether photovoltaic farms could also be used in this fashion (to sell energy to conventional electricity companies). I imagine the visual and environmental impacts are important to protect the area. However, clean energy may be sustainable and could cover initial costs in the long-term in my opinion.
One of the disadvantages in the DR, and please tell me if i am wrong, may be that many people do not pay their electricity bills.......... so i guess this may only start with an economically favourable future perspective....
High wind speed sites advice are interesting, which i guess may be in the Punta Cana, NE and Northern part of the country... also to minimise damage to local vegetation and local scenery, a closer look into the more arid sectors such as i guess the SW and future development in the Barahona area.......
I am also interested in eco-friendly tourism and I am wondering which of these two sectors (wind and/or photovoltaic solar energy farms and ecotourism) may be more financially sustainable or whether they could exist together, taking into account local and social aspects too. For example a contribution with ENERSOL for local less economically able residents (in case tourism profits were viable altogether).
I am open to advice.
Thanks,
jaimeespinar
Click to expand...

The areas you mentioned (Punta Cana,North coast etc) are a class 3-4
wind sites. Wind turbines are suitable there. At low wind areas, solar is
a costly alternative. Have in mind, on cloudy days and nights solar panels
don't work where the wind may blow also during the night.

The Dominican power shortages are, as you said, due partly to the fact
that some people here don't pay their bills. As a result, the generating
companies lack sufficient funds to aquire fuel for power production.

The Government steps in to assist those payments as many families
can't pay power bills with money they don't have. The government
subsidise propane for residential uses as an added incentive towards
lower electricity consumption.

The Kyoto Protocol should be implemented even if some countries never
signed it. Dominican authorities appear to be far away from enviromental
measures. Pollution is not controlled either from cars or factories. There
is cost involved trying to protect the environment. At this point, I don't
think the DR government can affort this. Individual efforts are the only
avenue to stop pollution. The Dominicans are not good at that simply
because education is not on the front burner. Bringing food on the table
is the priority here.

Salutations...Felix Navidad, Georgios.
 
J

jaimeespinar

Guest
wind turbines and ecotourism

Interesting information thanks.
I like to plan in case one day I might want to take a step forward in sustainability regarding tourism and energy. (not forgetting all the others too). Balearics in Spain and DR because i have family and relatives in both places. I am wondering about the area around Miches, whether land would be less expensive.. i have heard the road to sabana de la mar and the E to Punta Cana are in bad conditions. Except probably the one from San Pedro to Hato Mayor to Sabana de la Mar. Though, i am wondering how it is at the moment. There are hills in the Cordillera Oriental, maybe the ones facing NE and to the sea may be suitable for wind energy? Is it better to face south for solar energy? Tourism for proximity to samana bay, haitises, caves, hitchhiking in cordillera central? sandy beaches? I am just thinking and guessing because the furtest i got was Seibo and haitises and i think miches is less developed......
Here in the Balearics, Minorca is the island where wind blows most... wind speed for the days i recorded from a local newspaper were 35-50 kms-hour, Majorcan hill tops (Alfabia) 35-45 kms-hour. There are some windsurfing advertisements in the Fornells area in Minorca. Already some wind turbine developments in Minorca, and Campos and Arta in Majorca... the area in Pla de Sant Jordi and Palma de Mallorca airport, wind speeds of around 35 kms-hour these past few days, has many disused wind mills which at the time were to extract water.
Pla de Sant Jordi is near a tourist destination Playa de Palma where there are new plans to build more such as a golf course. So i think demand will continue increasing and i am wondering whether proximity to high electricity demand is important or whether it doesnt matter as long as it?s connected to the net. Another plan from the conventional electricity companies is to connect the Balearic Islands to mainland Spain national grid under the sea, many kms away..
Thanks again for your replies and for your information.
jaimeespinar
 
G

georgios

New member
Oct 2, 2004
201
2
0
Kites for power generation

221 said:
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3905763
Click to expand...

A great idea. Ideal for localized areas away from aviation pathways. The "debris field", in case one or more come crashing to the ground
must be in the thousands of acres which may include residential
areas.

This solution is not for the Caribbean region. Hurricanes here would
easily destroy kites at 30,000 feet. This region requires low towers,
slow turbing blades and tilt up tower capability to avoid damage.
Wind turbines advertized in the US and elsewhere such as Bergey,
Airx, Whisper, Proven and other prop style must be mounted on 60,
80, 100 feet towers. Since these towers are not tilt up, in case of hurricanes
or routine maintenance a crane service is needed. The cost is high.

Some wind turbine installations were damaged this past year in the
USA due to the fact that 1740 tornadoes have been recorded. In
the DR hurricanes these type of turbines(small residential) don't
stand a chance of survival.

My advice to owners of small wind turbines here in the DR is to
convert their towers to tilt up. The risk of having their system
damaged or destroyed by a hurricane is high. Furling, braking
or shut down systems are available from the manufacturers. These
protection features were implemented only to avoid overspinning
which results into wear and tear, overheating etc. By no means,
furling or braking provides hurricane protection!!!

Generally speaking, none of the wind turbines on the market is
suitable for the DR. This is the area I am working on. So far, testing
results are good but more is needed. A ptototype is to be installed
this coming March at the Puerto Plata area. Public viewing will
be possible and production is to begin in the summer 2005. Efforts
are made to make this type of turbine available to other Caribbean countries.

Georgios.
 
S

Stodgord

Bronze
Nov 19, 2004
668
14
0
georgios said:
I currently live in toronto
I plan to move and set-up shop on the north coast.
My new wind turbine design is rated at 10kw, stand alone+battery charging
availability. Special mesh to prevent bird killing provided. Good wind site
essential. Facing north, northeast into the ocean is ideal. I performed
numerous testing at cabarete, sosua and playa grande with favorable
results and good wind speed. Hill tops also suitable.
I like to hear from DR residents any comments about the power solution
using wind power. Thank you.
Click to expand...

Goergios,

I am extremely insterested in the Wind turbine that you are advertising. I just bought a 388 Tareas (approximately 62 Acres) land in Hato Mayor that has the perfect hill top for a wind turbine. My plan is to build a home at the hill top and install a wind turbine for power. When your design is ready please let me know.
 
R

rellosk

Silver
Mar 18, 2002
4,170
58
48
This is an incredible thread! I'm glad the moderator hasn't shut it down. I've always been interested in alternative energy. This thread has provided me with some good insight and some great links for future reading. Thanks!
 
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