Surprise Blackout Provides Learning Opportunity

Surprise Blackout Provides Learning Opportunity

06-21-2022

Model 3.1 Caliper and Brake DiskTuesday evening, our engineers received an alert that our Model 3.1 had shut down during a period of autonomous operations. Mark Chang, Jeff Willis, and Antonio Ojeda responded to a report of power loss at the UL testing facilities in Texas caused by an automobile accident that knocked out a grid line to the site. 

The Model 3.1 prototype functioned correctly, as it applied the emergency brake and shut down appropriately. Still, our team decided to take this opportunity to review data and protocols and make any necessary adjustments should they be deemed appropriate before resuming operations.

This unexpected event was an excellent test for our technology to undergo. As the climate crisis intensifies and continues to cause outages nationwide, our turbines must be prepared for these real-world challenges. This is another of the many conditions for which Model 3.1 has been tested in order to be ready for around-the-clock operation.

Our Model 4.0 Wind Harvester benefits from all the challenges that Model 3.1 overcomes. We are preparing Model 4.0 for Low-Voltage Ride Through (LVRT) as part of our controls system. Information gleaned from this surprise loss of power is valuable in finalizing the development of robust and resilient controls and LVRT system. 

We are happy to see the blackout resulted in no major setbacks and can resume constant operation once the evaluation is complete. We expect to return to official 24-hour operations soon.

Test the waters disclaimer page here

Contact: Jen Hoover, jhoover@windharvest.com

Wind Harvest International, Inc. is a California-based renewable energy technology company, founded in 2006. The company makes, sells, and develops projects for its Wind Harvester brand of H-type turbines, the only known product designed to harvest the highly energetic, turbulent wind that blows 15-80 feet above the ground. Wind Harvest’s wholly-owned financial subsidiary Wind Harvest Pilot Project Inc. raises funds and loans it to the parent company.