Giant 3-blade propeller wind machines have been deployed throughout the U.S. landscape to incrementally meet wind energy demands. There is currently a lead-time of five years to procure one of these units. Unfortunately, the units are low producers of energy, unreliable, dangerous, and require substantial investments in maintenance or rehabilitation to keep them operating.
The Pinwheels turbines maximize the extraction of available free wind energy, producing more energy than conventional propeller-designed, 3-blade windmills, at just 1/10th the size.
The Pinwheels turbines operate at wind speeds of 5 mph to 80mph while the 3-blade windmills operate only in a wind speed range of 11 to 30 mph, beyond which the blades, if not properly braked, may fly off the pole. The WSR turbine is transmission-free, thereby overcoming the 3-blade transmission-system energy loss of 50-70 percent. The WSR turbines use state-of-the-art Magnetronic generators which maximize the conversion of high voltage electricity, compared to the 3-blade windmills that require transformers to step up the voltage.
Funding will be used to purchase and deploy up to 900 WSR turbines in Tehachapi, CA over a 46-month planning horizon. California has one of the most aggressive, renewable-clean energy objectives of the 50 states. Within California, the Tehachapi Mountain Range, which makes up the Northwestern boundary of the Mojave National Desert, was selected for deployment of the turbines based on premier wind conditions; very low population; unattractive living conditions; the readiness of Southern California Edison (Edison) to purchase the power; easy connectivity to the grid; access road development; proximity to a major freeway system; Edison’s proactive role in assisting sellers in obtaining permits and environmental approvals; the flow of energy output to the Los Angeles Basin; and connectivity of the grid to the Western States and other states throughout the continental U.S.