Jan 12 2011
Southwest Windpower, a leading supplier of distributed wind generators, launched its latest wind turbine, which is highly compact and efficient, the Skystream 600. This was made public at the Las Vegas 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), under the sponsorship of GE.
The Skystream 600 produces 74% more power than its predecessor for both residential and commercial usage providing around 7400 kWh of renewable, cost-effective energy annually per household in annual speeds of 12 mph and thus is a highly efficient turbine. It could also supply up to 80% of an average household’s energy needs. It would be the first wind turbine, which is completely smart grid-enabled and it would be available to the public in 2011 March. Its advanced interactive Skyview System enables users to monitor the quantity of energy produced in the wind turbine from anywhere in the world having internet access.
According to Dixon Thayer, Southwest Windpower’s CEO, Skystream 600 incorporates multiple upgrades such as enhanced software, large blade design and an inverter, which is vastly improved and gives its users an affordable but more efficient small wind turbine. This would also help to decrease utility bills and provide clean environmentally friendly energy.
The CES exhibits innovative products for assisting consumers to manage home energy generation, consumption and cost. GE, a large scale wind turbine supplier, has invested in Southwest Windpower in early 2009 via the GE Energy Financial Services. GE with its ecomagination clean energy business strategy has committed to invest an amount of $10 billion in R&D activities in clean technology by 2015. Kevin Skillern, Managing Director of GE Energy Financial Services, stated that the company was bringing Southwest Windpower’s new product into the market. Southwest Windpower, based in Flagstaff in Arizona has installed 170,000 units globally and has an annual sales figure of 15,000 turbines. Having developed such a low cost and efficient system Southwest Windpower is making plans for increased growth during the next five years.
Source: http://www.windenergy.com