Wind Energy

Wind power plants use a renewable energy source as the wind in order to produce electricity.

There is a difference between plants connected to the network or stand-alone: the first ones transmit the alternative energy that is produced directly to the public network, while the latter ones do stock their produced energy in a group of accumulators for its later use in alternated or direct current.

In Italy, the wind power market is divided in three sectors, based on the installed power: micro-eolico (micro wind power) for power up to 20 kW, mini-eolico (mini wind power or community wind power) for power between 20kw and 100 kw, and macro-eolico (or simply eolico, simply wind power) for power over 100 kw.

Micro wind power solutions are tailored to the needs of families, because its relatively low-cost installation permits a fast rate of return on the investment, while more powerful systems are better tailored for hybrid applications, those ones that make use of several energy sources, or for bigger electricity plants.

Northwind 60, installed by PurEnergy in Bisaccia (Avellino, Italy), November 2009

Composition
Wind power systems area composed by a superior part, the nacelle, and by structure that sustains it.
The nacelle includes, in its front part, the rotor, formed by two or three blades which, put in action by the wind, make the engine whirl, producing electricity; the engine, or electric generator, the brake, and, in its back part, a pennant that permits to maintain the axe of the turbine perpendicular to the speed of the wind.

Normally, the turbines are installed on supporting elements like a post, that are evetual fixed to the land with ropes.


Feasibility study
To install a wind power plant the following elements have to be carefully evaluated:
- the average speed of the wind in the installation site, which can be obtained with direct measurements with an anemometer or by consulting wind atlases;
- the ideal height of the installation, considering that, generally, higher altitude equals to higher production, but, at the same time, costs and complecity of the construction and installation process may be also higher;
- especially for stand-alone plants, the power that will satisfy the energy needs of the user(s).


Advantages
The advantages of the wind energy plants are:
- safe and constant production of energy, thanks to a mature technology that has been widely tested and doesn't need lengthy maintenance works;
- limted costs of installation and maintenance;
- a safeguard from the growing costs of energy;
- production of alternative electricity also with low wind speeds;
- rapidity and practicity of the installation;
- green production of eletricity with zero emissions;
- possibility to install hybrid plants with solar power solutions.


PurEnergy, thanks to the experience of its team and the technological partnership with a market leader as Northern Power Systems, is able to deliver 'ready-to-go' plants, offering all the necessary technical, administrative and financial support to small and medium sized enterprises, public administrations, farms and private investors that are interested in the installation of community wind (mini wind) power plants.

> Discover the opportunities of community wind offered by PurEnergy in partnership with Northern Power Systems