Allen Farm Wind Turbine Exceeds Expectations

In late November 2011, the on the Island was installed at the Allen Farm in Chilmark. In the end of December, the turbine was approved by NSTAR and began producing energy. Great Rock Windpower, the company that installed the turbine also installed the turbine at Morning Glory Farm. We caught up with Gary Harcourt, co-owner and manager of Great Rock Windpower to find out about first month of energy production of the Allen Farm wind turbine.

MVPatch: Relative to other turbines, what is different or special about the Allen Farm turbine?

Harcourt: The Allen Farm turbine is the same model as the Morning Glory Farm turbine but it sits upon a monopole tower. It is an Endurance E3120 50 kW downwind turbine with a very large rotor for its rating, which makes it generate well at lower wind speeds. It is also a very quiet machine for its size. The large rotor drives an induction generator which maintains a constant speed of ~42 rpm.

MVPatch: How much energy has the turbine produced since it was installed?

Harcourt: Since the NSTAR approval on 12/29/2011, this system has generated 22298 kilowatt hours of clean energy. This is enough to offset:

• 30207 lbs. of CO2 emissions, the main cause of global warming
• 32978 miles worth of CO2 emissions from the average American car
• 732 days of electricity usage in an average American house.
• 1732769 hours of using a 13-watt energy-efficient CFL light bulb.

MVPatch: Have there been any problems with it?

Harcourt: No not yet

MVPatch: How much more energy was produced by the Allen Farm turbine than other island wind turbines in the past month?

Harcourt: 50% more per square foot of rotor area

MVPatch: Was that expected?          

Harcourt: No, I expected about 20% more. It is quite possible that over the course of the year it will be less than 50% but it was quite encouraging.

MVPatch: Why has it produced so much more?

Harcourt: There is little ground clutter (trees & buildings) to create drag and the hill gives great access to winds from almost all directions.

MVPatch: Have there been any complaints from neighbors in regards to noise, flashes, etc.?

Harcourt: I have heard nothing but positive comments, but then again people know we installed it.