|
| |
Top
100
Magenn Airborne Wind Balloon Ideal for Remote Village Power
At a comparable price, the renewable system would replace 10 kW diesel generators, while eliminating fuel supply and emissions issues.
Deployed on a tether 1,000 feet in the air, the system accesses adequate wind
speeds in areas otherwise unsuitable for wind.
by Sterling
D. Allan
Pure Energy Systems News
Copyright © 2007
Magenn Power is developing a 10 kW airborne wind turbine system that floats 1,000 feet in the air, tethered to the ground. The inflatable Helium balloon portion of the device has vanes on it that capture the wind energy, similar to a paddle wheel, turning it on a horizontal axis that is fastened on two ends. A generator is affixed to both ends, and the electricity is transmitted down the tether to the ground.
The technology is best suited for those areas where inexpensive, renewable power is desired, but ground-level wind speeds are inadequate. The Magenn Air Rotor System (MARS) floats the turbine up to where the wind is much stronger.
Areas where diesel generators are presently used or where they might be used are a likely market for the Magenn system.
The Indian government is in talks with Magenn to provide power to remote villages presently without power. One 10 kW system might power a couple of strong LED lights in about 60 to 70 huts; a water pump; a TV, VCR, computer in a small school; and a refrigerator in a medical clinic.
Pakistan, China and Africa are other countries with similar opportunities for the Magenn system. Worldwide, there are approximately five million villages without power.
The MARS system is best suited to locations where there is not a lot of air traffic activity, and where grid electricity is not presently available.
The set-up costs for MARS are projected to run around $4 to $5 per Watt. In comparison, the set-up costs for a traditional utility-scale wind farm run around $2.5 to $3 per Watt. But those are huge installations, and require a good ground-level wind profile. The Magenn system can go where the wind farms are not feasible.
The install costs for a comparable Diesel generator system are about $1.00 per Watt, but then there is the continual cost of the fuel to run the generators.
Magenn has secured around a $1 million (Canadian) grant from the Canadian government to further their refinement of the design. The grant is a matching-funds grant, contingent on Magenn being able to raise $2 million from private sources. Recently, Magenn landed a separate $300,000 grant to build a 1 kW sized unit which is expected to be completed by Novemeber 2007.
A smaller prototype without generators attached, has been built and tested. The present task is to continue to refine the design then to build and test a production prototype of the 10 kW size scheduled to be completed some time in 2008, provided Magenn receives the necessary funding soon..
Krystal Planet will market the product within the United States. Around the world Magenn has interest from over 250 dealers in 42 countries.
# # #
See also
|
|
|
Page composed by Sterling
D. Allan June 7-9, 2007
Last updated July 05, 2007
|
| |
|
Stumble It!
Feed