Dec 22 2010
Cleanfield Energy, a Pioneering Wind energy company, in Toronto, is planning to install wind turbines on Toronto’s rooftops and also in other cities throughout the world. This initiative is a major change from the conventional huge wind farms in rural areas, which were the norm in the past.
Cleanfield has decided to build turbines that could be positioned on or close by to buildings, which are going to utilize the power generated, instead of installing a turbine in remote and rural regions and then constructing transmission lines and towers to convey the power to the purchaser. According to Tony Verrelli, Cleanfield’s CEO, the wind energy market potential was enormous and the company’s aim was to develop distributed power generation systems with numerous turbines that produce energy at the point where it is going to be utilized. The new technology, Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) helps in achieving this goal.
These VAWTs are planned and constructed explicitly for chaotic and variable winds, which are present in urban environmental conditions. Verrelli mentioned that funds for developing this superior technology were provided by the Ontario Centers of Excellence and technological help from the McMaster University. This technology is now the cynosure drawing all the attention from engineers, architects, operators and real estate owners worldwide. As of now, the company’s turbines have been implemented in Canada, US, China, Slovenia and Ireland, and many more new markets will be available in the foreseeable future.
Cleanfield will concentrate on the UK market having a close relationship with the The Johnson School from the Cornell University and the Queen’s School of Business. This is mainly because of the electricity prices and the fact that its feed-in-tariff program decreases the payback time for consumers who are acquiring renewable energy systems. The company is trying to obtain the MCS certification and testing for its V3.5 VAWT, which is essential to meet the criteria for the feed-in-tariff program in UK.
The VAWT is crafted to efficiently harness both the turbulent and moderate winds in the urban areas and can be installed on either a rooftop or a monopole. It could also be incorporated into the building plan where it would operate noiselessly and purge any vibrations via the specialized operating software, which would also handle the reliability, life expectancy and efficiency. Its sensor and inverter board are developed with performance and safety heightening features such as monitoring of ambient and generator temperatures along with vibration controls; and Optimization of power coefficient and tip and aspect speed ratios along with over-speed protection features. VAWT usage also decreases carbon emissions and is thus eligible for LEED Certification.
Source: http://www.cleanfieldenergy.com