Valley Community for Recycling Solutions has
completed a significant expansion of its green power capacity with the
addition of a Kestrel wind turbine to its recycling facility in Palmer.
The turbine will add an additional kilowatt of power annually to the 4.3
kilowatts of capacity supplied by the center's 24-panel solar array,
which began energy production in May 2011.
The
1k Kestrel e300i small wind turbine generates electricity at relatively
low wind speeds and maintains output in excess wind speeds, optimizing
energy yield. An SMA Windy Boy 3kw inverter and 50-foot tower complete
the wind system. The new turbine augments power produced by the center's
existing solar installation, which utilizes 24 Trina 180w solar panels
and a 6kw SMA Sunny Boy grid-tie inverter, all supplied by Renewable
Energy Systems and installed by Ahtna Engineering and Mag Electric. The
combined systems allow excess power generated to be fed back into the
grid, further reducing energy costs.An SMA data monitoring system provides real time energy data from the Windy Boy and Sunny Boy inverters, while a rooftop anenometer and SMA sensor box capture site conditions. The data logged is displayed for public viewing on the SMA web site. This is a valuable education tool for energy potential of renewable systems.
The solar/wind system enables the recycling center to harness clean energy for their power needs, lowers their carbon footprint, and reduces their dependence on Palmer's local power grid, in keeping with the center's mission to reduce, reuse, and recycle for the long term good of all, and to establish the Mat-Su Borough as a model recycling community for Alaska. Visit Valley Community for Recycling Solutions for more information.
