October 14, 2010
ISHPEMING - The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded more than $760,000 to Clean Green Energy LLC, one of the companies involved in the construction of the wind turbine at the Pioneer Bluffs Apartments, to commercialize and mass produce similar turbines.
Bryan Zaplitny, president and CEO of both Clean Green Energy and MTI Energy Management, said the Ishpeming turbine is continuing through its testing phase, with the possibility of being operational by the end of the year.
A project that has been under way for several years, the Ishpeming turbine is the prototype for the medium-sized turbines Zaplitny and his companies are working to make commercially available.
"We had a competition this past spring for mid-sized turbines, which is a new thing with the Department of Energy," said Keith Bennett of the Department of Energy. "We were looking for a system that would allow us to use U.S. manufacturers and we want a turbine that is very cost effective."
Bennett said advantages with the Ishpeming turbine design include a low height, low cost energy and a plan to include U.S. manufacturers for production and supply of parts.
The project could also be eligible for a second round of funding next year, up to $4 million.
Facing issues like redesigning the turbine blades, resolving engineering issues, creating a specially-designed lifting rig for attaching the blades and creating a maintenance-free structure, Zaplitny said the Ishpeming turbine will eventually be replaced by the production model that will be created using Department of Energy funding.
"There's no way of rushing things if you want to do it right," Zaplitny said. "We've been going through a series of testing to put the algorithms in place."
Zaplitny said the grant from the Department of Energy served as "validation of what we're doing."
The Ishpeming turbine, which is remotely controlled, is a vertical access wind turbine designed to eventually supply a portion of the electricity used at the senior housing complex.
Earlier this spring, the a set of new, lighter blades were attached to the tower, replacing heavier models that were originally made. When in full production, the turbine blades will be made using composite technology.
Two other projects are being funded by the Department of Energy grant, including turbine projects in Vermont and Texas.
By JOHANNA BOYLE Journal Ishpeming Bureau
Johanna Boyle can be reached at 906-486-4401. Her e-mail address is jboyle@miningjournal.net.
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Article Photos
Currently in its testing phase, the wind turbine at Ishpeming's Pioneer Bluffs Apartments could be operational as soon as the end of the year, meaning the completion of a project that has been several years in the making. One of the companies involved has just received a U.S. Department of Energy grant for more than $760,000 to mass produce turbines based on the Ishpeming model. (Journal photo by Andy Nelson-Zaleski)
