EarthTronics snags Honeywell name on its new gearless wind turbine

I represent Southwest Windpower, a company that has been in the small wind business for more than 23 years. I am a big supporter of new companies entering the small wind turbine industry. No question there is a lot of opportunity in this space.
However, I draw the line when people hype conceptual drawings and present performance calculations that are clearly projected. How much energy a device can extract from the wind is a direct function of the diameter of the rotor times the cube of the wind speed. I find it very difficult to believe that a device with a 5-6’ rotor could develop 1500 watts unless it is in an extremely high wind. Few people live in places like this.
Wind turbines are not "garden Sculptures" they are designed to produce electricity. Proper siting, installation and maintenance all have dramatic affects on their performance.
If any individual or person is interested in investing in a renewable energy company:
1) Contact a University or the National Renewable Energy Labs (www.nrel.gov) and ask for a second opinion. As in their opinion that the design has both performance and economic merit.
If any individual or person is interested in investing in a wind generator:
2) Ask to see if the design has been tested and certified by an independent third party. Ask to speak with people that own one.
A small wind turbine can be a fun and worthwhile investment. Just make sure its tested and certified.

Hello - I am an interested consumer. But before I purchase your equipment at an Ace Hardware Store, I need some more information.

Your press release reads:
>...The turbine starts generating power at wind speeds as low as 2 miles per hour. ... <

My question :
How many kWh per year would be generated at that worst case scenario of "2 mph winds"?

Your press release reads :
>>...can produce over 1,500 kilowatt hours per year in low wind speeds ...<<

My questions:
How is that calculation done? (I mean, is this a "best case scenario" of 45 mph wind speeds for an entire year?). Can you please provide more scenarios.
Are "low wind speeds" between 2mph and 45mph?
Does it assume a constant wind speed of 45mph for the entire year?

How do I know if I live in a "low wind area" or a "high wind area"?

You provide many reasons for excitement in this industry and savings for my pocket-book. But, after the initial excitement goes away, my technical questions start to pop up. You provide a lot of hype but leave a lot of important and critical questions unanswered.

Also, "what is the name of this product"? If Ace is going to be stocking it later this year, shouldn't you be providing us the product name? If I walk into an Ace today and say "I want to place an order for the "Blackberry of Wind" - will they know what I'm talking about? If I ask for the "Honeywell Gearless Wind Turbine" - will they know?

Please "no spin" in your responses.

You have my attention - you are close to getting my money - honest to the point replies will result in me spending my money at Ace (or similar) on your product.

The ball is in your court. Please please pleae, don't let me down.

Thanks,

-gary

Here's a formula for estimating monthly energy output for wind turbines from by Hugh Piggott, www.scoraigwind.co.uk.

(wind speed in mph)3 x (rotor diameter in feet)2 ÷ 600 = average hourly output in watts.

If you plug in the Honeywell numbers it would look like this:
2 cubed x 6 squared /600 = .48 watts per hour or .35 kWh per month. This amount of power would light a 50 watt bulb for 7 hours.

As wind speed increases the power is increased by a cube factor. So doubling the wind speed from 2 to 4 mph would increase the monthly output to 2.8 kWh. This would light a 50 watt bulb for 56 hours.

The best resource I know of for finding the average annual wind speeds at different altitudes for specific cities can be found here:
http://www.alternative-heating-info.com/windpower_residential.html

You do have my attention.
The one thing I do not like about EarthTronics expansion ideas is the quote I cut from the article(June 8, 2009 - Exclusive By Lisa Sibley, Cleantech Group )below.
"During the next 24 months to 30 months, EarthTronics plans to build six or seven additional production plants to serve customers in India, China, Europe and North America, which are emerging markets for power demand."
KEEP OUR JOBS IN THE USA!

Honeywell should be ashamed to have their good name (used to be anyway) associated with huckster products.

Posts have correctly pointed out the falsity of various claims. These guys are just depending on catching suckers who have no idea of what they are getting into.

Wind speeds of less than 5 m/s (approx 11 mph) are of no use for power generation. Roof tops are even worse. If you do any research at all it is easy to see through the claims of most small turbine mfgs.

This one, like many other small turbines, is only after rebate/incentive.subsidy money - your tax dollars they are trying to dip into for junk.

Brilliant! Except its not.

Industry expert Paul Gipe has already reviewed this product and has this to say about the design:
"There is no substantiation to back up the promoter's claims and the claims themselves are exaggerated."

Also of note:
"There are no units in use. One turbine has been "tested" in a wind tunnel. Thus, all claims about the product are projecture.

Those who have followed the debate about performance measurements of small turbines realize that testing in a wind tunnel is not testing at all. Wind tunnel "tests" are useful only for design not for estimating the performance of the wind turbine in the field.

Though no turbines have been tested in the field, Earthronics has hired a public relations company."

Something tells me the positive comments, the few, are from this PR Firm WindTronics hired.

And who the heck would talk about selling a product they have never tested in its intended use??!!

http://www.wind-works.org/SmallTurbines/Windtronics760EstimatedGeneration.html