RECYCLED TURBINES STILL SERVING

A second life for California wind turbines
Dirk Lammers, March 20, 2009 (AP via San Jose Mercury-News)

"…[H]undreds of Danish workhorses bearing the names Nordtank, Micon, Vestas and Bonus aren't quite ready to slow down…These wind turbines — stripped down to the steel and completely rebuilt — are forgoing the scrap heap in favor of second lives powering farms, schools and businesses.

"Within the capital-intensive wind industry, there are a growing number of companies that specialize in bringing old turbines back to life, helping smaller customers save a little cash while going green."

Built for the long haul. (click to enlarge)

"Most of these windmills, once state of the art, debuted on large California wind farms in the 1980s…New 65- to 100-kilowatt wind turbines, large enough to power a farm or help defray a school's electric bills, can cost $3,000 to $6,000 per kilowatt, meaning the entry prices would be close to $200,000, according to the American Wind Energy Association."

Technology with far-ranging perspective. (click to enlarge)

"Buying secondhand can cut those costs by about half or even more…Many wind turbines are being decommissioned from some of California's oldest wind farms, having reached the end of their design lives…

"Michigan's Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker School District wanted to connect a few wind turbines to its elementary building to save on energy…The on-campus wind farm…saves the district a little cash…But it has provided a gold mine of educational value, as students get to study physics and electricity by building small mock-up wind turbines and competing for the top design. "