Greentech Lead America: Northern Power Systems, a manufacturer of magnet direct-drive wind turbines, has unveiled two new turbine models designed for low wind speed sites.
The NPS 60-23 and the NPS 100-24 wind turbines are based on the proven NPS 100-21 platform, but leverage product features that produce higher energy capture in low winds while reducing the noise profile of the turbine, enabling more siting opportunities for the owner.
The company has successfully deployed more than 20 of these wind turbines in the United States, United Kingdom and Italy during 2012 and 2013.
The NPS Low Wind turbine fleet has surpassed 50,000 operational hours with availability in excess of 97 percent, and has generated more than 1,500 MWh of clean, renewable energy, enough to power more than 150 US (or 450 UK) homes for an entire year. These improved models are optimized for low wind and yield comparatively more energy in low wind regimes.
The NPS 100-24 is based on the proven platform of the NPS 100-21 which was originally designed to service remote areas such as Alaska, where regular maintenance is not an option. The NPS 100 is a highly reliable turbine that utilizes permanent magnet direct-drive technology and has fewer moving parts than a conventional gear-box based wind turbine. The NPS 60 model generates 59.9kW rated power and is utilized in areas where grid connection capacity is a constraint.
The quiet, low profile turbines with multiple tower and rotor options fit perfectly in remote locations as well as in agricultural and industrial areas, the company said.