Jun 3 2010
Hybrid Turbines, Inc. has introduced its hybrid gas-wind turbine system named SmartGen. This system burns natural gas or biogas to rotate wind turbine generators. Generally, large wind turbines produce rated power just 30% of the time owing to irregular wind blows; however, SmartGen which can be fitted into existing wind turbines produces power at rated capacity all the time. The product can be retrofitted into novel wind turbine designs. SmartGen can scale up to large 4 MW offshore and onshore wind turbines.
SmartGen System
The 35-GW of installed wind energy capacity in the U.S. can be generating grid power all through the day. SmartGen uses a turbo-compressor for compressing the air, which is utilized for driving a turbo air motor that is joined to a wind turbine generator. Utilizing the already existing wind turbine generator helps save costs.
The increased 25 GW output signifies production capacity of 25 nuclear power plants each with 1,000 MW capacity. The President of Hybrid Turbines Nick Verini stated that SmartGen is a completely renewable energy-based system if biogas is utilized.