Windspire, One Step Closer to Cheap Small Wind!

We have to be skeptical with small wind because it's been so shady up until now, but Mariah Power is seriously poised to release their vertical axis wind turbine this spring for $3,995.  This is incredible news.  They just passed the ETL (safety) certification and also comply with UL1741 and IEEE 1547.1.  Translation:  the Windspire is safe to go to market.  But you'll notice that the Windspire features a new design, which is expected to produce about 1800 kilowatt hours per year in 11 mph average wind conditions.  That amount of wind power is roughly 25% of a typical household's energy. 

The Windspire has several features that make it a likely candidate to dazzle the market.

1. It is propeller free and conveniently shaped at thirty feet tall by four feet wide.  Doesn't need a lot of elbow room. 
2. It has a fully-integrated design, aka the plug 'n produce design, which includes the high efficiency generator, integrated inverter, and wireless performance monitor.  The integrated design allows for simple installation (estimated to cost around $1,000). 
3. It uses a new, slow-speed giromill rotor for silent operation.  The giromill rotor is being independently tested, so the company can bring an element of trust to their marketing. 
4. It is manufactured in gray but can be painted any color you want.  It has undeniable visual appeal, which I think is augmented if you line up a row of three or four, rotating like spinning rims on a tricked out car. 

This turbine is going to be a big hit, I can feel it.  Via REA.

More info on the ETL Listed Mark.

Comments

[josh]

This is fantastic! Perfect for an urban rooftop patio.... thanks for the link.

[Preston]

Yeah, I think it would look great, but I'm not sure if it's made to go on a roof. Installation requires a 6 ft deep x 2 ft diameter concrete foundation, so that may not work on a roof.

A good roof option is probably the turbines by Aerotecture.

[adam knapp]

Yea, they're 30 feet tall. I've seen a few variations on this design, I think vertical rotors are the future of wind technology.

[Preston]

@adam knapp

I think you're right. With vertical turbines, you have a lot more space to catch the wind, whereas, with the turbine-style or horizontal axis turbine, you're limited to get wind at the right vertical level.

[K]

Are they serious? $4000? I'd buy that for $500, but $4000 is clearly a ripoff.

[Preston]

@K - you're clearly entitled to your opinion but you haven't enunciated a basis for it. Why $500? Are you comparing it to something that's cheaper?

[D]

Are you kidding? 3995 to buy, 1000 to install=$5,000 in place. Generates 1800 kwh a year at $.10=$180 a year payback= $5000/$180=27.7 years!!!

[Preston]

@D -

Not counting any incentives and not counting the desire to quit using coal and not counting the desire to minimize pollution.

And it doesn't mean everyone buys it. Think about places where the average kwh is more like $.14 or $.15. Add that to a situation where there's a local wind incentive and you get more than the average of 11 mph of wind.

At $.14, you're talking about a 20 year payback, but what if you get more wind and a better incentive. Then your payback comes under the warranty period.

All I'm saying is, we're getting somewhere with this tech.

[Man]

I put solar and wind into my house. Had my house reappraised after installation. Now I pay more in taxes then the wind and solar are benefiting me. No joke. Danged if you danged if you dont.

[Steve]

Check this out.http://www.stumbleupon.com/url/www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4224763.html%253Fseries%253D37

[B Dear]

Very cool design. I do wish it was more affordable though.

[TY]

Preston does have a point though, although the technology is new doesn't mean people should be paying an arm and a leg for going green, just because it is a green item doesn't mean the people buying it or selling it have green incentives. You have to realize that money still runs the business world not the incentive to make the world cleaner. -- If a company truly wanted to help green up the world and was not looking to profit themselves beyond world benefit this item would be much less money.

[Jim]

"If a company truly wanted to help green up the world and was not looking to profit themselves beyond world benefit this item would be much less money."

Ah, the Star Trek economy, where you work doing whatever you like and don't use money.

[Curtiss Lonsbury]

This is a very interesting design. What about laying it on its side and putting it on the peak of a roof? After all, they are very good at handling turbulence, and the roof of a house (or barn, etc.) would actually funnel air to it and decrease the wind speed needed to make it run.