The Application of Small Wind Energy Conversion Systems to the Telecommunications Industry

Abstract

Wind energy is receiving a great deal of focused attention concerning its technical feasibility, its competitive cost for electric power generation and other applications and its minimal environmental impact. Wind energy technology, both commercially available and cost competitive, has been used extensively to provide electric power in remote areas where access to a central grid is too difficult and costly. For example, to power remote telephone repeaters, Australia has used wind energy as a standard practice since the 1930s. In the United States, several private companies have expressed an interest in using wind energy for powering remote telecommunications stations. With regards to high reliability, particularly the reliability required for the telecommunications industry, the recent testing of wind-electric systems under harsh atmospheric conditions, has proven and documented a high level of required performance. Small wind systems are now capable of remote, unattended, and near maintenance free operation, performance characteristics which are well suited to applications in the telecommunications industry.