New wind generator fits on company rooftop
July 23, 2009 by Tom GuayPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, News, Technology
The latest innovation in wind power technology eliminates the need for towering turbines and dealing with irate neighbors who don’t want those things in their line of sight.
Instead, companies can now install wind generators on their rooftops, just like they install air conditioning chillers.
That’s the promising renewable energy technology offered by a device dubbed “the Wind Cube.” The first installation has just been completed on the roof of a Crown Battery Manufacturing Co. facility in Port Clinton, Ohio.
The 22-square foot unit uses fancy software technology to constantly rotate the cube to harness and channel the wind through its turbine. The unit generates 130,000 kilowatts a year.
It’s part of Crown’s strategy to operate off the electrical grid. The Wind Cube is well suited for the reliable winds coming off Lake Erie. The Wind Cube is modular, so extra units can be easily added as Crown expands and its power demands grow.
CEO Hal Hawk says his company’s investment in renewable, off-grid power generation gives Crown a competitive advantage over companies that rely on more expensive electric power purchased from coal-fired power plants.
The Wind Cube is manufactured by Ohio-based Green Energy Technologies.
News story and photo are here.
Crown Battery’s announcement is here.
Tags: Crown Battery Manufacturing, Green Energy Technologies, renewable energy, Wind Cube, wind power
GreenandMore.com
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July 24th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
When oh when will this technology reach the residential sector?
July 24th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
What about Waynesville, North Carolina. Will it be coming to our area anytime soon?
July 31st, 2009 at 5:11 am
Here! Here! on looking for it in the residential sector…………Good old duke power, because they “guarantee” their stockholders their dividends, once again want’s to raise its rates in SC by 12.1% or so. good timing boy’s….unemployment’s at an all time high, people are losing their houses car’s etc……
August 6th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Have you seen those cubes? Massive units. Like an overgrown shopfan. If your building’s big enough, maybe.
As far as the residential sector, there’s some hope on the horizon. My buddy over at Jellyfish Wind has a prototype ready for market and is talking with Depot to carry the full line. They are vertical axis turbines that mount on your roof or a small tower. They are quiet. And the beauty is, it actually plugs straight into an outlet. While you sleep, your meter could be turning backwards, saving you money.
From what I understand, they’ll likely run between $300 and $400. Hopefully by the end of the year we’ll be seeing them popping up.
August 6th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Joe, try looking into the vertical axis wind turbines. They are fairly bird-safe and are very unobtrusive and quiet. If you have at least a couple acres, you could install several units and really offset your energy bill.
I see you have a rather large pair of buildings. It would be nice to see some up there on those flat rooftops. Have a great day and good luck.
August 7th, 2009 at 9:00 am
I love this idea! I tried in 2000 to put two wind turbines on land for my manufacturing plant. The city would not let me. Too ugly!? Even Ted Kennedy did not want to put them up in his sailing area of Pudget Sound. I still don’t see the problem with the turbines, but if I can get some info on these cubes, I would like to try…
Send anything you can to my web site reply board http://www.eco-tech.ws
August 11th, 2009 at 6:01 am
[...] the Wind Cube, a rooftop wind turbine that’s about the size of an industrial chiller. Click here for details on the Wind Cube, made by Green Energy [...]
August 13th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Obviously, you need wind for any of these to work. How can a person find out if there areas a good spot??? 44706, OHIO!!! Not on a lake Erie, Canton.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:49 am
I don’t understand why people are so opposed to windmills. I think the free standing windmill turbines are beautiful. They are certainly more attractive than coal plants!
January 6th, 2010 at 10:23 am
[...] New wind generator fits on company rooftop [...]