New Study Shows Groundbreaking Mid-Level Wind Turbines Can Nearly Triple Wind Energy Output in the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 24, 2023

Contact: Kevin Wolf, kwolf@windharvest.com

Elias Rappaport, elias@nextgeneration.org

A new study and supporting documents by Wind Harvest, a company that is building a novel type of short, utility-scale turbine, has found that mid-level wind turbines could more nearly triple the energy output in the notably windy Tehachapi Wind Resource Area. If utilized, this wind resource would provide enough energy to power 1.8 million California homes each year.

Mid-level wind is a term used to describe the currently untapped energy resources found in the turbulent wind 15 ft to 100 ft (5-30m) above the ground. In contrast, modern horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) need smooth (laminar) wind energy over 100 feet above the ground. They are also set far apart from each other to avoid the turbulence their neighbors create. This leaves room for shorter VAWTs that can fit beneath and between current and future fleets of HAWTs to significantly increase energy production of wind farms.

In this study, Wind Harvest analyzed 66 feet (20m) above-ground wind speeds in the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area using publicly available location information and average annual wind speeds from UL’s Windnavigator, the world’s best tool for evaluating wind speeds.

The analysis shows that existing farms could add 5.7 gigawatts (GWs) of short, Wind Harvester-type vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT) to the 3.3 GWs of HAWTs currently installed. Based on the mid-level wind speeds in the zone and assuming the use of VAWTs that would be as efficient as Wind Harvester turbines, the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area could produce 18,354 GWh of electricity per year.

The area is already zoned for wind turbines and roads have already been installed. Large-scale projects would require new transmission lines and permits.

Speaking on this aspect of the mid-level wind opportunity, Kevin Wolf, CEO of Wind Harvest, said: “The capacity factors of wind farms in the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area could be increased by 10 to 25% by small installations of VAWTs under the HAWTs.  When wind speeds are high and substation capacity is exceeded, the older HAWTs could be shut down, extending their lives by 5-10 years. These capacity factor enhancement projects will likely be the first VAWT projects in wind farms.”

Regarding the broader report, Kevin Wolf continued: “The Tehachapi Wind Resource Area is already one of the largest wind farms in the state. With an underlayer of VAWTs, it has the potential to nearly triple its already extensive energy output. If we’re going to achieve a clean energy future, we need to make use of the least expensive sources of renewable energy found in the windiest areas around the world.”

The report concludes by noting: “California, its citizens, and businesses would benefit greatly from the buildout of even a small fraction of the 5.7 GWs of mid-level wind energy in the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area. New short VAWTs will soon be available to handle the turbulent, high-energy winds. When turbines are installed to tap the Wind Resource Area’s excellent mid-level wind speeds, more jobs, property and other taxes, and lower cost energy would benefit the region and the state.”

This is the third report in a series of similar, regional reports released by Wind Harvest. The first two focused on the San Gorgonio Pass and Solano Wind Resource Area respectively.

Wind Harvest designs, makes, and sells Wind Harvester™ VAWTs to commercial and utility customers. These turbines will vary in capacity from 50 kilowatts (“kW”) to 250kW. Their blade tips can be as low as 60 feet above the ground. All are designed for the turbulent and gusting mid-level wind that traditional turbines are unable to use. Their first Wind Harvester will be third-party certified and available for sale in 2024 with 50 to 75kW generators.

For more information on Wind Harvest, visit https://www.windharvest.com.

You can find the report and supporting documents HERE.

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