From a news release issued by RENEW Wisconsin:
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Ry Thompson
Seventh Generation Energy Systems
608.467.0123
thompson@seventhgenergy.org
Alicia Leinberger
Seventh Generation Energy Systems
608-333-5375
alicia@seventhgenergy.org
Canadian company’s first U.S. turbine spins plenty of power for cranberry farm
Dentist Frederick Prehn, owner of Prehn Cranberry Marsh near Tomah, wanted the power that the cranberry farm paid for without having to pay the utility.
“The second order of business, I wanted a turbine that has a history of working in low wind speed,” said Prehn.
A 35-kilowatt (kW) Canadian turbine, perched on a 140-foot-tall tower, accomplishes both. The first of its model line ever manufactured by Endurance Wind Power, Prehn’s wind generator underwent five months of testing at the company’s Quebec manufacturing facility.
“Wind speeds are all relative,” Prehn said. “The wind speed in the cranberry bog isn’t as good as the Great Lakes, but I’m amazed. I’ve gone through all the data I can gather, and the turbine is producing pretty well.”
“The Endurance fits Wisconsin’s climate conditions,” according to Ry Thompson, a project manager with Seventh Generation Energy, Madison, which installed the turbine.
“We’ve been eager to install one of these,” Thompson said. “It’s a very well-designed, durable machine and the 30-foot long blades make it suitable to lower wind speed environments, as are common in Wisconsin,” Thompson said.
“This should be a very popular turbine among farmers, schools, small municipalities, and manufacturing facilities,” he added.