Each wind turbine in the wind park near Freiburg cost 2 million Euros. Six of these 1.8 MWh wind turbines were installed at a cost of 13 million Euros. Out of this total individuals invested in a share of the operating company in order to provide 4.6 million in capital. Five hundred and twenty people invested a minimum of 3000 Euros. Each 3000 Euros generates 12000 kWh. Each investor gets money back over twenty years from2003 to 2023. Over this time each investor gets 280% of their money back. To start with each investor gets 3% in the first year, then 5% the next year until in the last year the investor gets 20%. The tower is 98 metres height. On the top is is the 100 tonne generator. The tower was made of concrete since it is too difficult to bring steel up the mountain. The concrete tower was constructed over about three weeks. Unlike the first generation of wind turbines this new generation has no gear. The blades turn 22 times per minute transforming DC to AC. 95% of German wind turbines are privately financed. People invest because they get money back. The federal subsidy makes it a good investment. Normal electricity has a once cent per kilowatt additional cost added so that wind and other renewable’s can be purchased at a premium. Wind gets paid a couple cents more than conventional power. Solar gets paid many times more.
Who am I ?
Hi, I’m Erik Astrand and the man behind this site.
My story? I am about to be 50 and all my life I have been interested in technical things. Not sure if the special interest for the wind, and how to use the wind, started when I as a 5 year old boy and got my first sail dinghy.
Anyway, wind power and to build my own wind generator was a dream for several years. I studied many websites and also bought many courses before I finally built my own windmill. This site is about that journey and you will also find some more general articles about wind power.
Enjoy! and check out the about me page to read more.
awsome!
If USA invested just $5 per day per household for 32 years, that would be enough to power a Billion homes!
i think we should better support our troops in iraq instead of doing those germans stuff.
The video claims that 95% of money, for wind power in Germany,comes from private investors.
Congratulation!
Did you make this film by yourself when you were in Germany or is it copied from other?
I knew that these towers were made of steel but this is the first time when I hear about a tower made of concreate. It seams to be unique configuration.
However you may be wrong when you said “The blades turn 22 times per minute transforming DC to AC”. I think that blades transform only wind in rotating movement and DC current produced by generator is converted in AC using an inverter.
“The federal subsidy makes it a good investment”. This is not private funding.
A good investment. This is carbon trading for the people. Lets have more of it. Where can I see the numbers on paper ?
This is not a good investment. Please research this before you decide that wind energy is the right choice. I have and I’m not happy with what I’ve heard and found. Please don’t jump to the conculsion that this is a good thing.
MADAME SARKOZY
Similar to the Westmill Wind Farm in the UK. Blow wind Blow!!!
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Coal will run out someday, so will oil and natural gas, it’s lucky that all the “renewable” energy sources are good for the enviroment. Wind and Solar power are definately the best for the Planet.
come to germany, i will show you my numbers on solar energy my house sells to the grid.
You sure got that right. Imagine a world without dust and mucky smog. It will be a beautiful planet blue and atmospherically outrageous dont you think?
damn right
any way there is also water power right?
I believe so but at the moment scientists don’t think its a good idea because that may cuase pollution as well. But the boiling of water idea might be a water power source.
hmmmm……always good to thing about how to save nature
so true.
ok then
Enercon ROCKS
Interesting video here…According to the Department of Energy (DOE) 40% of all energy used in the US be it oil,gas, wind, solar etc is converted into electricity. The power shortage is a major issue and businesses cannot afford blackouts. Hence companies like Pacific Crest Transformers are working in the renewable energy sector wind. It offers custom built energy transformers for wind energy farms. Check the website for more…
The key take-away here is he gets a 280% return on investment over the 20 years. Doing well by doing good – that’s the kind of concept that will make renewable energy independent of government subsidy.