Over the last 20 years, wind energy has become the world's fastest growing energy source. As of the end of 2007 there was 94 GW of installed wind generation capacity, globally. Analysts expect this number to grow to 650 GW by 2020, which represents a 16% compounded annual growth rate. Today's wind turbines are produced by a sophisticated mass production industry employing a technology that is efficient, cost effective and quick to install. Turbine sizes range from a few kW to over 6,000 kW (6 MW), with the largest turbines reaching more than 100 meters in height. One large wind turbine can produce enough electricity for about 6,000 households. State-of-the-art wind farms today can be as small as a few turbines and as large as several hundred MW. The global wind resource is enormous, capable of generating more electricity than the world's total power demand, and well distributed across the five continents. Wind turbines can be operated not just in the windiest coastal areas but in countries which have no coastlines, including regions such as central Eastern Europe, central North and South America, and central Asia. Modern wind turbines start generating electricity with a wind speed of three to four meters per second and cut out when the wind speed reaches storm force (more than 25 meters per second).
Wind turbines have a high steel tower to mount the generator nacelle, and have rotors with three blades. Foundations require hundreds of cubic meters of reinforced concrete. When the wind blows, a pocket of low-pressure forms on the downside of a turbine blade. This pulls the blade towards it, causing the rotor to turn. This motion is transferred into electricity by the generator, which is based inside the nacelle (the structure mounted on the top of the tower). The electricity then passes down through the cables inside the tower, and via a transformer into the electrical grid.
Skeiron orders its wind generators from the top manufacturers of the world with proven installation and field operational history track records to minimize operational risk. At the same time, Skeiron explores incremental new technologies and partners with technology companies to implement technological advancements to improve efficiencies of its wind generators. Skeiron strives to bring innovation to its installed base of wind generators, and is cooperating with several global partners to do so.
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