Re-manufacturing Old Wind Turbines
Re-manufacturing old wind turbines can create even more clean energy
As we roll into the new energy of the 21st century, we can celebrate the success of technological advances. Today, new wind turbines are larger and more efficient than those constructed just 15-20 years ago. With improvements, we can now tap into even more clean electricity from the same area of land. In other words, less is more.
In the spirit that is green and eco-friendly, the older equipment and turbines used in the 1980s are not merely scrapped into the trash heap. Many companies are re-manufacturing old wind turbines for re-sale to farmers or small, community wind developers. Yes, we’re advocating recycling of renewable energy!
Why is this such a good idea?
First, the prices are significantly lower than those associated with a brand new wind turbine. Think of it as the “used car” market for wind energy. There are a number of companies that offer re-manufactured old wind turbines that have been salvaged from wind farms erected in the late 20th century. These include Halus Power Systems (CA), Energy Maintenance Service (SD), Aeronautica Windpower (MA) and Nexion DG (OR).
Second, distributed generation wind projects, which are usually smaller scale, can use the re-manufactured wind turbines at a competitive price. Generally, these projects generate less than one megawatt of electricity and are used by cash-strapped operations like schools and rural communities. As noted in a NY Times “Green, Inc.” blog post:
“To go out and build a new turbine of the size we’re working with, it would end up costing twice as much,” said Matt Stein, director of operations for Nexion DG. “And anybody building components for new wind turbines is focusing on the 1 megawatt-plus turbines because that’s where the action is.”
The bottom-line difference for using re-manufactured wind turbines, as opposed to brand new ones, is about 1/2 the cost of energy per kilowatt. Add in the significantly reduced waiting period for a used vs. new wind turbine (2 months to a year), and it makes sense for smaller operations to get a re-manufactured turbine and get going as soon as possible!
Lest you think you are compromising in quality or lifetime, experts advise that a well-rebuilt wind turbine will last at least 20 years. So, it could be a sound investment. Just be sure to think about a warranty, if offered.
Here on the West Coast, the Oregon Department of Energy is predicting more demand for used turbines, in order to meet the state’s renewable portfolio standard. The state is required to generate 25% of its energy from renewable sources by 2025. This includes an 8% goal from distributed generation, smaller community-based projects. But nationwide, we’re already seeing more demand for community wind projects, due to the federal funds available through the Stimulus Bill/bailout.
Its worth considering whether re-manufactured old wind turbines makes sense for your property! Get on the clean, wind energy bandwagon and let’s start building/re-building our way to a green tomorrow.
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I visited Mountain House, California this past weekend, looking for bargain-priced homes to purchase. I visited a friend who lives in Mt. House while looking and I inquired as to why none of these homes have solar panels. She replied that she thought they didn’t need them since they have windmills all around them.
This community, located between Livermore and Tracy, was opened in 2002. It is unfathomable that none of the developers were instructed to build a sustainable community that would harvest the wind power and the sun power.
Until Congress passes laws which will regulate developers and force them to implement green-building in the U.S., we will see this sort of slap-shod building continue throughout the U.S.
If I do purchase a home there, I will have solar panels installed, as well as a small windmill installed in the backyard of my property. Maybe, just maybe, if the community would install these implements, they would not have so many vacant homes just sitting and rotting away, due to the economic downturn.
Leslie,
I couldn’t agree with you more. I think we’ve seen a lot of sloppiness in the past, which is why moving forward, it’s in everyone’s favor to plan ahead. Everyone wants to think “right here, right now,” but so many of our actions today have serious implications for the future.
It’s for this reason that we all really need to, “Build Baby Build.”
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Rebuilding, remanufacturing, and retorfitting wind turbines is actually a common process now. I worked for a company a while ago that had a retrofitting unit that would change the generator, gearbox, and sometimes the rotors and replace them with their own. They would then rebuild the ‘junk’ taken out and resell them.