Mariah Power's Windspire Wind Turbine Testing and Results
A video of Mariah Power's Windspire wind turbine. Text Version
As part of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and U.S. Department of Energy (NREL/DOE) Independent Testing project, NREL tested Mariah Power's Windspire Giromill small wind turbine at the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) through January 14, 2009 when NREL terminated its testing. Read a chronology of events and letter from Mariah Power to NREL.
The Windspire is a 1.2-kilowatt (kW) vertical-axis small wind turbine. The turbine tower is 9.1 meters tall, and its rotor area is 1.2 by 6.1 meters. The turbine has a permanent-magnet generator with a single-phase output at 120 volts AC.
Testing Summary
Testing was terminated January 14, 2009. Published test reports include information and data through that date.
Cumulative Energy Production
| Activity | Status |
|---|---|
| Award of Subcontract | February 5, 2008 |
| Preparation for Installation | Foundation poured: February 21, 2008 Components received: March 7, 2008 Inverter received: May 2, 2008 Documentation received: May 8, 2008 |
| Turbine Installation | Turbine Installed: March 17, 2008 Inverter Installed: May 5, 2008 |
| Turbine Commissioning | May 15, 2008 |
| Turbine O&M and Testing | |
| Safety and Function Test | Wind Turbine Safety and Function Test Report for the Mariah Windspire Wind Turbine |
| Power Performance Test | Wind Turbine Generator System Power Performance Test Report for the Mariah Windspire 1-kW Wind Turbine |
Hrs of valid data (60 required) |
299 |
Bins completed (3-14 m/s required) |
0.5 - 13.5 |
| Acoustic Noise Test | Testing terminated 1/14/09 |
| Power Quality Test | N/A |
| Duration Test | Wind Turbine Generator System Duration Test Report for the Mariah Windspire Wind Turbine |
Months of operation (6 required) |
4.8 |
Hours of power production (2,500 required) |
831.3 |
Hours of power production in winds greater than 7.2 m/s (250 required) |
132.9 |
Hours of power production in winds greater than 10.8 m/s (25 required) |
12.5 |
kWh of production, cumulative |
108 |
| Turbine Removed | April 1, 2009 |
| Post-test Inspection | N/A |
| Final Documentation | Completed |
| Project Review Meeting | Completed |
