Small wind turbines struggling to gain momentum

Market trends and potential energy production

Compared to the traditional wind market, the market for small wind turbines is growing at a slow speed. But according to Miamari Siitoinen, Marketing Director of Eagle Windpower Oy, 'the wind is turning' and small wind turbines are currently witnessing a strong increase in demand.

To what extent is that good news? What is the potential share of small wind turbines in the renewable energy mix? Sander Mertens of the Technical University Delft in the Netherlands conducted a research project comparing various quality parameters of small wind turbines presently on the market. The study shows that the potential of small wind production is overrated. Most small wind turbines are expensive and yield less than the manufacturer’s claim, concluded Sander Mertens. He supports the introduction of quality certificates indicating the actual efficiency of residential wind turbines.

That said, some types of small wind turbines show good results. The Finnish technology company Eagle Windpower Oy developed a small wind turbine making use of nanotechnology. It possesses lighter and stronger blades, enabling the doubling of the wing size. According to Juha Siitonane of Eagle Windpower Oy, this results in 'an increase in power production of 30 per cent compared to traditional small wind power stations.'

According to Mertens’ study, it is mainly the very small systems used in residential environments that have the poorest efficiency. Most of the Eagle Windpower systems, on the contrary, are bigger and mounted on a tower of 7 to 20 metres high. The company mainly targets emerging economies. In those countries, small wind turbines can be used to improve the reliability of the electricity supply at residential or commercial sites, or to power water supply in remote regions.