BOULDER WIND POWER BREAKS IN

Wind turbine firm selects Boulder
David Clucas, April 2, 2010 (Boulder County Business Report)

"…Boulder Wind Power, headed by [former National Renewable Energy Laboratory chief engineer] Sandy Butterfield, plans to [design and build the next generation of wind turbines and] employ 15 people by this summer, and possibly 30 people by the end of the year…It is looking to attract wind, electrical, structural and mechanical engineers and analysts.

"Butterfield, the company's chief executive officer…was a co-owner of ESI, a company he later sold that developed and sold small wind turbines…New Enterprise Associates, a California-based venture capital firm…is providing Boulder Wind Power with a "substantial" but undisclosed amount of financing…"

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"Boulder Wind Power will focus on designing, developing and eventually manufacturing large megawatt wind turbines, primarily for onshore and perhaps offshore use. The turbines will feature redesigned "direct-drive generators" - the key innovation and challenge for the company, Butterfield said.

"…Frequently, engineers will design a gearbox to speed up the rotors to match the generators - it's the least expensive solution today but not the most mechanically reliable…Direct-drive generators are more reliable - everything is moving at the same speed, Butterfield said. But direct-drive generators make the wind turbine heavy and expensive…"

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"…[Butterfield believes he can make reliable direct-drive, utility-scale turbines as light and inexpensive as today’s gear-driven systems]…Butterfield hopes to have a proof of concept within two years, and a prototype machine in three years. The large 1.5-megawatt wind turbines would span about 88 to 105 meters in diameter…

"Butterfield said he chose Boulder because…[competent engineers will be attracted]…Jim Smith, vice president of engineering and a principal of Boulder Wind Power, is moving from Connecticut, after working 30 years for General Dynamics…There's also local talent and expertise…"