Author Archives: hugh

About hugh

I live off-grid in NW Scotland and have spent my life playing with wind turbines. I also love small hydros. Hands on renewable energy is my thing and I like to learn and to share my experiences.

News from Tanzania

Posted on 17/01/2014 by hugh

With great success, the first partner project between I Love Windpower Tanzania (ILWPT) and Engineers Without Borders (EWB) UK branch at the University of Warwick took place in September 2013 in the village of Kemgesi, Serengeti region, Tanzania. The new … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, courses, developing world, People | 2 Comments

Newsletter from Tripalium in France

Posted on 15/01/2014 by hugh

Tripalium newsflash: goodbye 2013, hello 2014 Tripalium held 17 training courses in 2013. One of the highlights of the year was Hugh’s visit in May followed by the annual meet-up of the thirty odd people who make up Tripalium. A … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, construction, courses, France, People | 2 Comments

Power curve data for 3 metre recipe turbine on Scoraig

Posted on 29/12/2013 by hugh

I have been using a Mobile Logger from Logic Energy to collect data on a 3 metre diameter turbine close to my house.  The turbine is built to the Recipe Book.  In the gallery you can see the site and … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, power curve data, Scoraig | 1 Comment

Ampair announces exclusive negotiations to acquire Westwind.

Posted on 03/12/2013 by hugh

Ampair, the Dorset-based wind turbine manufacturer, is pleased to announce that it is in exclusive negotiations to acquire Westwind, the Belfast-based wind turbine manufacturer. Ampair, with over 40-years’ experience, is the UK’s oldest manufacturer of wind turbines.  Westwind relocated from … Continue reading →

Posted in products/technical, UK small wind scene | Leave a comment

Vertical axis in decline

Posted on 30/11/2013 by hugh

The MCS approved list of small wind turbines includes 31 models, but none of them are vertical axis any more. Quiet Revolution QR5, the darling of the architects, is no longer listed there.  Instead the company have quietly shifted to … Continue reading →

Posted in UK small wind scene | 5 Comments

Wind turbine kits in Ireland

Posted on 24/11/2013 by hugh
Posted in construction, People | 4 Comments

Wind tunnel test compared with theory in Portugal

Posted on 22/11/2013 by hugh

João P. Monteiro has done some interesting studies of the performance of a 1200 diameter Recipe blade set in a wind tunnel and compared the results with theoretical predictions of a couple of simulation progams.  The results are close.  It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, People, power curve data | 1 Comment

Rural Electrification Research Group Survey Results

Posted on 17/11/2013 by hugh

See this page for details of the results so far from this survey.  Why not join in and contribute to the survey? Here are a couple of the many charts on the results page: See all the results here  

Posted in construction, courses, People | Leave a comment

LOCALLY MANUFACTURED SMALL WIND TURBINES – HOW DO THEY COMPARE TO COMMERCIAL MACHINES?

Posted on 12/11/2013 by hugh

PhD_Seminar_2013_FullPaper_Sumanik-Leary FINAL Above is a link to a paper by Jon Sumanik-Leary in which he uses a study of a Scoraig power system (with 3 metre diameter recipe turbine) to compare with a Bergey wind turbine.  Annual energy production is … Continue reading →

Posted in People, power curve data, Scoraig | Leave a comment

Test report for Recipe 3.6 metre turbine

Posted on 11/11/2013 by hugh

Rapport SEPEN 32.6 – Eolienne autoconstruite Piggot – 1.7 kW – Reseau Above is a link to the full test report in French of a Recipe style 3.6 metre diameter grid connected wind turbine, built by Tripalium. I can understand … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, construction, France, People, power curve data | Leave a comment