Today at a 1.5 MW wind turbine in Solano county. (picture)

[NYC_SKP]

Wind is one great power source but not THE answer to all our dreams.
I'm happy we're installing more capacity every year.

This was taken this afternoon in Solano county, west of Sacramento, CA.
There are 3 MW units nearby but this one was down for servicing and good for a picture.
Big, isn't it?
The 3MW units are the largest in North America.




:hi:

[tularetom]

1. Are you involved with putting these things up?

If so can you tell me why, when I drive over the Altamont, half of them are not turning even though the wind is blowing. Seems like (a)a waste of wind and (b) a lot of stress on the blades if they're locked in place while the wind is blowing.

[NYC_SKP]

2. There are a host of possible reasons.

Maybe someone will chime in with more expertise, but:

The Altamont has a variety of turbine designs, and there may be different explanations depending upon the design.

Some are being serviced, or a relay may flip to shut them off until they can be serviced--that's if you just see one or two not spinning.

If several are not spinning, it could be that it's too windy and they are of a design that shuts down if it becomes too windy, or there could be something happening downline that required there be no power applied to the local transmission infrastructure.

Next time you see this, try to determine if the blades are feathered into the wind, variable pitch blades can be turned so that the leading edge faces the wind, which can indicate that they've deliberately adjusted the pitch so that they won't spin.

Like I said, there are lots of possible reasons.

Among these big turbines, all were turning.

:hi:

[kristopher]

3. It could also be that wind is highly variable

In any given wind farm you often see gusts of wind transiting the facility.

It is interesting to note that one of the most negative associations the public has of wind energy is related to a stationary rotor.

BTW, who is making a 3Mw terrestrial turbine? Do you know the size of the rotors?

[NYC_SKP]

5. Vesta V90, 90 meter.

Hi Kristopher,

The photo is of a 1.5 Mw unit, maker unknown, I was asking other questions of the guy.

Here are a couple links related to the 3 Mw units:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eamayda/sets/72057594137250574/

http://www.smud.com/community-environment/wind/index.html

Next week, Diablo Canyon....

:hi:

[kristopher]

7. Thanks.

I'm guessing the 3MW is also a Vestas. I didn't realize they had an onshore model that large.
Rotors are 90m in diameter, so each rotor is nearly 150 ft long. How in the devil are they transporting them?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vestas_V90-3MW

[NYC_SKP]

8. You mean the 1.5s?

The 3s were v90s, the 1.5s were Vestas too, maybe, I think they were 72 meter.

The picture is a 1.5, we didn't have time to get close to the V90s unfortunately, but saw them from a distance.

Another article mentions 2.0s in the same vicinity.

[XemaSab]

4. Cool picture

I'm not so much surprised at the size, but I am surprised that the whole thing is light enough to be propped up on 12 hay bales.

Unless there's something we're not seeing? :shrug:

[NYC_SKP]

6. Your eyes aren't lying...

I said something to the enXco rep about it, like, "I like your high-tech blade rests!"

Of course the blades have enough structural integrity, in that vertical orientation, to hold themselves up from the hub without bending, and the hub is heavy enough to keep the thing stable, the bales don't take much of a load.

A heavy piece of equipment was strapped to the tip of one blade, however, to keep any lateral wind force from making mischief.

This unit was getting a new gearbox.

[phantom power]

9. Small, compared to the newer ones.

They climb right up through them to service. Did anybody see the dirty jobs episode servicing the nacelle on one of those big jobs? Lots of metal.