HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-18-2008_Montana State University Wind Turbine Project
Memo compiled on August 13, 2008
Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Allyson C. Bristor, Associate Planner
SUBJECT: Montana State University’s Wind Turbine Project
FYI/Discussion Item
MEETING DATE: Monday, August 18, 2008
RECOMMENDATION: No recommendation is required at this time. This item is for
information purposes.
BACKGROUND: The City Commission has expressed interest in renewable energy
opportunities. Planner Bristor sits on the MSU’s University Facilities and Planning Board and
wanted to make the Commission aware of a forthcoming MSU Wind Turbine project. The
university received grant funding to install one wind turbine tower on university property. The
wind turbine tower will be no higher than 50 feet and will be located north of Kagy Boulevard
and between Greek Way and S. 7th Avenue in the university’s Faculty Court area. Please see the
enclosed “Faculty Court Site Inventory Map.” Also see the enclosed “Skystream” brochure,
which describes the size of the tower and location requirements for optimal results.
This project can serve as a test case for the City of Bozeman, to see if wind turbines are effective
sources of renewable energy.
CONTACT: Please feel free to email Allyson Bristor at abristor@bozeman.net if you have any
questions.
APPROVED BY: Andrew C. Epple, Planning Director
Chris Kukulski, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS: MSU Staff Memo
Wind Turbine Documents
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UNIVERSITY FACILITIES PLANNING BOARD
August 5, 2008
ITEM # 4
MSU WIND TURBINE PROJECT
PRESENTERS: Candace Mastel, Assistant Planner
Robb Larson, P.E., Assistant Professor
PROJECT
PHASE:
PLANNING X SCHEMATIC DESIGN
DOCUMENTS
CONSTRUCTION
DOCUMENTS
STAFF COMMENTS:
The Facilities Planning, Design and Construction department has been working cooperatively with Robb Larson,
Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, and Sean Micken, Project
Coordinator with Western Community Energy, to plan the installation of a1.8 –kW, residential-size wind turbine on
MSU’s campus.
MSU was recently awarded status as the state Wind Applications Center (WAC) via a grant from the Department of
Energy National Renewable Energy Lab (DOE-NREL.) The MSU turbine installation would support educational
and research applications at MSU, while providing a crucial link with the companion Montana Wind for Schools
Program (also supported by DOE NREL.) The turbine is an integral part in implementing goals and objectives of
the WAC program. This project has produced much excitement in regards to exploring the “sustainability” benefits
for both on-campus use and as an outreach tool beyond campus.
All parties involved have worked diligently to achieve supplemental funding through Northwest Energy for the
purchase and installation costs associated with implanting the turbine project. In choosing a site for the turbine, key
Department of Engineering staff, Facility Services, Planning, and other staff resources were consulted. In an effort
to wisely choose a site that is acceptable to all parties affected, the project team will also consult with building users
in the vicinity and community members adjacent to the proposed project site.
The attached “Faculty Court Site Inventory Map” illustrates the proposed two prime choices for installation sites in
the Faculty Court area. Also attached are letters written in support of the grant application and a Skystream Wind
Turbine brochure. As described in the brochure, the turbine tower would be no higher than 50 feet (monopole) and
the actual blades on the turbine would be under 12 feet in diameter – resulting in minimal visual impact.
COMPLIANCE: YES NO
MSU POLICIES X
COMMITTEE OR APPROPRIATE REVIEW X
MASTER PLAN X
BOARD ACTION REQUIRED:
No recommendation required at this time - informational item.
RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE
DENY
NEED MORE INFORMATION
NO FORMAL RECOMMENDATION
Board Chair Board Vote
I:\Log -Feasibility\08-00-00\08-02-02 Wind Turbine\UFPBFORM 08.docx
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MSU Wind Turbine Project
Faculty Court Site Inventory Map
August 5, 2008
SHEET LEGEND
Facilities Planning, Design and Construction
South 6th Avenue and Grant Street
Bozeman, Montana 59717
406.994.2001 (phone)
406.994.6572 (fax)
A B
A
B
Faculty Court East Location Faculty Court West Location
LTAP
BSI
FACILITIES
USDA
GREEK WAYSOUTH 7TH AVE.SOUTH 3RD AVE.Note: Meters exist on the LTAP and the BSI buildings. The meter on the LTAP building is
located on the north side of the building. The meter on the BSI building is located on the
south side of the building.
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Produce electricity
in your own backyard.
1.9 KW RESIDENTIAL POWER APPLIANCE
MADE IN THE USA
182
WIND POWER FOR
THE REST OF US
183
There’s a great big electricity source up
in the sky. Wind. It’s free, non-polluting,
and endless. But until now only a few
could tap into it.
Introducing Skystream 3.7™ – a new
generation Residential Power Appliance
that hooks up to your home to help you
reduce or eliminate your monthly electricity
costs. It’s the first compact, user-friendly,
all-inclusive wind generator (with controls
and inverter built in) designed to provide
quiet, clean electricity in very low winds.
With Skystream, homeowners and small
business owners now have the power to
choose their electricity source.
I thought we needed to take advantage of
the wind. If it’s there, we should capture
it and use it. Then you came out with
Skystream. It is the perfect solution, the
perfect blend of features for the average
homeowner. I couldn’t be happier with it.
–Rena Wilson Jones, Urbana, IL
Now You Have
the Power to Choose
That’s how a leading publication describes
Skystream. Developed in collaboration with
the U.S. Department of Energy’s National
Renewable Energy Laboratory, Skystream
was designed from the start for homeowners
looking for a quiet, convenient, affordable
way to protect themselves from ever
increasing electricity costs.
How it works is simple. With no batteries*,
Skystream connects directly to your home.
When the wind is blowing, your home is
powered (in part) by Skystream; when it’s
not, your home is seamlessly powered by
your utility as usual. During periods of strong
winds, Skystream can actually produce
excess electricity. Depending on your utility,
your meter will spin backwards—giving you
credit for a later date.
*Battery charging for home energy back-up systems
are also available.
iPod is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Unlike the iPod, the Skystream is very quiet.
The iPod®of Wind Power
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With a rated capacity of 1.9 kW,
Skystream can provide anywhere from
40%-100%* of a household or small
business’s total energy needs. Its
sleek, distinctive swept-wing blades
and elegant form make Skystream an
attractive addition to any home. With a
guyless tower, Skystream blends in like a
neighborhood street lamp. And because
it operates at a low RPM, Skystream is
as quiet as the trees blowing in the wind.
*Actual savings is based on windspeed at the
site and monthly energy consumption.
Graceful,
Yet Powerful
185
Advanced blade and vibration technology
assures your Skystream always produces
energy efficiently and quietly.
An optional two-way remote display unit
lets you control your Skystream from up
to 1000’ (300 meters) away. You can also
monitor performance and download energy
performance data to your personal computer
(via USB converter).
Redundant safety features protect
Skystream from high winds without
the need for mechanical overrides.
186
Reduce Or Eliminate Your Electricity Bill
Skystream is the first wind-powered, grid-
connected Residential Power Appliance that
produces electricity for less than the retail
rate of many utilities. Since everything is built
in and there are no significant maintenance
costs, once your Skystream is operating and
the wind is blowing, you’ll see an immediate
reduction in electricity costs.
Depending on your installed cost, cost
of electricity, and average wind speed,
Skystream can pay for itself in as little as
five years. Some states offer investment
incentives in the form of rebates that
improve the cost payback. Visit www.
skystreamenergy.com or contact your local
dealer for more information.
Average Household Electricity Consumption
How Skystream Works
Energy outputs based on average seasonal wind speed
fluctuations and average household energy consumption.
Individual sites will vary.
Scale Comparison
Electricity
Produced by
Skystream
Electricity
Consumed by
Household
Winter Spring Summer Fall
40’
30’
20’
10’
Skystream provides
electricity to home
Home connected
to utility grid
Disconnect
Switch
Meter
187
Skystream provides
electricity to home
Home connected
to utility grid
Disconnect
Switch
Meter
Will Skystream Work For You?
At least 10 MPH average wind speed (best results at 12 MPH or more)*
Your property is at least .5 acre and has unobstructed views
The local zoning allows a structure that is at least 42’ tall
Your local utility has an existing interconnection agreement for homeowners
(Your Skystream dealer can help determine this)
* Visit www.skystreamenergy.com for wind maps for your area, or consult your local Skystream dealer.
Our goal from the start was to make the
free energy in the wind accessible to more
people than ever before. Skystream’s
compact design and high-efficiency energy
production has opened up that opportunity
to millions of homes around the world. If your
site fits the following criteria, chances are
Skystream will work for you:
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Your local Skystream dealer
Technical Specifications
Model: Skystream 3.7
Rated Capacity: 1.9 kW continuous output; 2.6 kW peak
Weight: 170 lbs / 77 kg
Rotor Diameter: 12 ft / 3.72 m Swept Area: 115.7 ft2 / 10.87 m2
Type: Downwind rotor with stall regulation control
Direction of Rotation: Clockwise looking upwind
Blade Material: Fiberglass reinforced composite Number of Blades: 3
Rated Speed: 50-325 rpm Tip Speed: 213 ft/s / 66 m/s
Alternator: Slotless permanent magnet brushless Yaw Control: Passive
Grid Feeding: Southwest Windpower inverter 120/240 VAC 50-60 Hz
Braking System: Electronic stall regulation with redundant relay switch control
Cut-in Wind Speed: 8 mph / 3.5 m/s Rated Wind Speed: 20 mph / 9 m/s
User Control: Wireless 2-way interface remote system
Survival Wind Speed: 140 mph / 63 m/s Sound: 45 decibels @ 40 ft / 12 m
Southwest Windpower: the People Behind Skystream.
For 20 years, Southwest Windpower, Inc., in Flagstaff, Arizona, has brought low-cost, reliable,
clean energy to the world. As the world’s largest producer of small wind generators, we’ve
pioneered new technologies to make renewable energy simple. Visit us at www.windenergy.com.
Southwest Windpower 1801 W. Route 66 Flagstaff, AZ 86001
www.skystreamenergy.com
Energy Performance
Printed on Recycled PaperPatented and Patent Pending
FIVE YEAR WARRANTY
mph 5.6 7.9 10 12.3 14.5 16.8 19 21.2 23.5 24.6
m/s (3.5)(4.5) (5.5)(6.5)(7.5) (8.5)(9.5)(10.5)(11)
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0Monthly EnergyOutput (kWh) Average Annual Wind Speed
mph
m/s
Wind Speed Power (kW)3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0 0 11 22.3 33.5 44.75 60 67.1(0) (5) (10) (15) (20) (25) (30)
Data measured and compiled by USDA-ARS Research Lab, Bushland, TX
189