Developing Powerful Communities

As technologies have advanced, approaches to generating power from the wind are more efficient than ever before. But what does that mean for those smaller wind energy systems…..

Boston,MA United States

Deriving power from the wind is nothing new. Reports have windmills dating back to 200 B.C. What began as small-scale attempts to harness energy, have developed into multi-megawatt producing machines today. As technologies have advanced, approaches to generating power from the wind are more efficient than ever before. We’re collecting clean, renewable energy from wind comprehensively in larger and larger scales. But what does that mean for those smaller wind energy systems…or should we simply relegate them to the past?

Larger turbines might have replaced smaller ones in many cases, however, not everywhere. The global market for small and medium wind turbines (SMWT) is actually forecast to double by 2015, especially in developing markets, reaching US$634 million.