Market and technology
Home owners, business people and farmers are more and more considering the application of small wind turbines. Countries like Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal and Italy are setting up support schemes for the application of grid-connected small wind turbines. At the same time activities for off-grid electrification applying small wind turbines are being fostered by developing countries and the telecom companies use small wind turbines to power their base stations.
However, the people applying these turbines should consider the choice of turbine carefully, as each turbine is designed for a specific market niche. The efficiency of power conversion, the ability to generate a good yield even in turbulent areas or the ability to withstand strong storms, flickering shadows or noise emissions vary from turbine type to turbine type. In densely populated areas other turbines should be used than in on the country side. At the coast a different turbine type should be used than in-land. Island grids need a different turbine characteristic than turbines for utility grid feeding. Wind turbines made for battery charging usually have a different operation strategy than those made for grid connection. Therefore, a lot of different wind turbines are available on the market and each one is designed for a specific market niche.
INENSUS supports small wind turbine manufacturers in developing their turbine to exactly fit the needs of a specific market niche and makes sure that the turbine meets the requirements of the standards applying for the respective niche.