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Why is there more than one inverter?

We do this with the 10kW Fortis Alizé to achieve higher efficiency than is possible with a single inverter. In low winds (which is most of the time in most places!), only one inverter needs to be active which avoids the "standby loss" associated with keeping a second inverter online. When the winds pick up, additional inverters are activated in stages to handle the additional power available.

What is the Protection Box / Controller doing?

As a rule, small wind turbines require that an electrical load be available to the alternator at all times. Normally, the inverters provide this load from the grid itself. If the grid is unavailable (as in a power outage), the turbine needs to divert its power somewhere - usually to an appropriately sized DC heating load. It is the function of the controller to monitor the inverters and to determine where to send the power output from the wind turbine.

It is generally acknowledged in the industry that small wind controllers have been a weak point in system design. As such, Fortis has chosen SMA---the world leader in inverter technology---to provide all balance of system electrical components including the controller. To date, we have not had a single failure of an SMA controller.

How much wind is enough to justify investing in a wind turbine?

As a rule, we consider 5.0 m/s or 11.2 mph to be the average annual wind speed where a typical grid-connected small wind system will become an economically viable investment. We strongly encourage customers to determine actual average annual wind speed at the site rather than rely on estimates or opinions; most people overestimate their wind resource. Also keep in mind that you are investing not only in a wind turbine but also in the tower that will get this machine up high enough to harvest the wind resource.

If you live off-grid, then a small wind system may make sense even if you have a much lower average annual wind speed due to the often large seasonal variation in the wind resource. In the northeastern U.S., winter wind speeds are much higher than in summer months. As such, small wind systems complement PV systems by providing significant energy production during the winter.

Where can I find wind resource information?

U.S. Department of Energy | Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy(EERE): http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_maps.asp

Where can I learn more?

American Wind Energy Association: http://awea.org/

Danish Wind Energy Association: http://windpower.org/en/

A summary of government incentives can be found through DSIRE and through AWEA.org.

A basic wind map is available from AWEA.org and more detailed ones can be found through the U.S. Department of Energy, NREL , or Ecobusiness

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