Small Wind Systems for Rural Energy Services

About this book

Small Wind Systems for Rural Energy Services provides a concise guide to all the essential steps for setting up wind business services in developing countries. It deals with all the key aspects of promoting wind energy for domestic end uses, as well as giving a guide to needs assessment, resource assessment, the economics of small wind machines and technology choice.

Most of the practical information explained in Small Wind Systems for Rural Energy Services is taken from installations in Peru and Sri Lanka. Small Wind Systems for Rural Energy Services describes the factors critical for sustainable development of small wind systems in rural areas. It also addresses the challenge of scaling-up, defined as the conditions and the strategy needed to move from a limited number of units to a widespread sustainable industry. Institutional aspects, business development and the policy environment are also examined.

Contents

- Introduction, Why wind energy is an attractive option?, How can wind energy be made more attractive?, Why the dissemination of small wind generators is still limited?
- Understanding Wind Generator Technology, The Permanent Magnet Generator (PMG), The blades, Tail vane mechanism, Tower, Electrical controls, A typical system, DC or AC?, Matching needs, the wind and the generator
- The Wind Potential, Measuring the wind, Where to site the generator, How much power will a wind generator produce?
- Assessment of Needs, Household energy use, Power and Energy, Number of households, Calculating energy needs, Matching needs - the wind and the generator, Battery sizing, Sizing the batteries,, Conclusion
- Economics of Small Wind Systems, Manufactured cost, Financing ownership by battery charging services, Table 8 - Financial viability of small wind generator enterprise
- Sustaining the Technology, The Development of a Wind Energy Sector, Institutional Support, Business Development, The Policy Environment

Customer Reviews

Biography

Smail Khennas is a Senior Energy Specialist with ITDG and author of several books on rural energy in developing countries. Hugh Piggott runs his own successful wind power business. He trains and advises small companies and organizations around the world on small-scale wind power systems. Simon Dunnett has worked for many years as a researcher and is now an independent consultant in wind energy.