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Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
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Renewable Energy: Gaia 11kW Turbine Opinions?

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorbrathnach
    • CommentTimeAug 26th 2010
     
    Hey all,

    Im seriously looking at installing one of the above turbines on my land. Now just to give you an idea of the site. Its pretty open from West to South to East with a hill to the North. The predominant wind is South West so with a mean annual wind speed (from SEI wind map) of 6.6 m/s so looking to generate 30-40,000 units/year. The business I have uses around 50,000 units per annum - (how I dont know but it is!!). Anyways Im just really curious to hear from anyone out there who has installed one of these and if it lived up to expectation as regards being in line with the wind speeds predicted from wind maps etc.

    Also, I'd appreciate any feedback people may offer if they think I should be looking at a different manufacturer for this type of site. I know the speeds are at the upper end of what the gaia is used to, but to be honest I couldnt find any other reliable and somewhat affordable turbine that would match my usuage. By the way Im in the Republic of Ireland so feed in tariffs etc are a bit of non-issue for me as I am really just trying to cut my usuage and make a big impact on the current electricity bills!! Any comments welcome!!!


    THanks in advance,



    Jim
  2.  
    When the Gaia is going its good but make sure maintenance is sorted out. We have one installed which we are having problems with.
    •  
      CommentAuthorDamonHD
    • CommentTimeAug 14th 2011
     
    "how I dont know but it is": I'd suggest that spending a few hours with a £10 plug-in meter or similar could halve your consumption and thus reduce the size of turbine you need buy to make an impact!

    Rgds

    Damon
  4.  
    I looked at having two Gaia 11kw but have ended up going for a WES 30 250kw instead. Main reason is were looking for min 20kw to run equipment on the farm and assumed average wind speed 1 m/s less than predicted. Also needed low cut in speed and high cut out speed due to a very exposed site.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeAug 14th 2011 edited
     
    As Damon says, find out where and when your electrical energy is going first. The 'when' is important if you are trying to reduce your imported energy as a turbine does not generate equally thought the day, week, month, year. If you use a lot during the day, look at PV, it is reliable (though perceived as expensive), silent and pretty predicable at the short term level.
    Do you heat water as part of your business? and how do you deal with space heating?
    You should also get a wind survey started as soon as possible, preferably at the hub height of the proposed turbine.
    • CommentAuthorwindy lamb
    • CommentTimeAug 15th 2011
     
    My Gaia has only been up for 2 months and I'm happy so far. It's generated 3300kWh so far with the best day giving 178kWhrs. I was standing next to the controller the other day (as you do) and it was happily generating 10kW @ 7m/s wind. Also, it keeps generating power until about 2m/s before freewheeling.
    With all things attached to a computer, I think they'll be the possibility of problems so it's vital to get a good installer who has experience and provides a warrantee and maintenance service.(see the other thread about Gaia reliability).
    After about a year researching the subject I concluded that the Gaia had the best track record and fewest problems but with all things nothings perfect.
    I'd do what Steamy said first. Lets face it it's easier to do that than enter the planning process (in Wales anyway).

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