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SkyRota installation for Grand Designs and The Radian Project

The first residential Skyrota vertical axis wind turbine installation by Sitec Infrastructure Services, a Cambridgeshire-based company, is to be featured in a future episode of Channel 4s ‘Grand Designs’.   Skyrota has already been seen at places such as this year’s Glastonbury Festival but this is going to be the first permanent installation for this technology.  It was installed in the garden of Dr Jonathan Belsey’s new home, ‘The Radian Project’ in Boxford, Sudbury.

SkyRota at Glastonbury Festival 2009

Skyrota is a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT), Permanent Magnet Generator (PMG) machine, designed and built in-house by LGC in Limavady, Northern Ireland.

The 5kW rated turbine was installed as one of `The Radian Projects` renewable energy technologies and will provide sufficient energy to help power the privately owned 175sq m single story building. With increased interest in renewable energy production the design of the wind turbine is set to be an important focus in the TV programme.

One of the most impressive features of the Skyrota turbine is the near silent operation at all wind speeds, which enables the turbine to be installed in noise sensitive environments such as nature reserves, schools, colleges, offices, or ,as in this, case a home.

The Blades

The blades have been designed using powerful Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software in conjunction with leading Universities. The blades act as an aerofoil which harnesses energy from the wind regardless of direction. Hence, the turbine does not waste energy endlessly trying to ‘hunt’ for the optimum direction. The blades are made from a polymer Kevlar/carbon composite matrix using innovative moulding techniques.

Electrics

The Skyrota electrics are a clever mix of intelligent control systems, which can be tailored to be site specific, making the turbine produce the optimal amount of power for the wind conditions. Various packages can be added to the base specification, i.e. schools packages and remote monitoring

Safety

As with all wind turbines, there is an inherent risk that the blades can over run if the generator stops producing.  This is a real risk which is taken seriously by Skyrota. To insure this does not happen, Skyrota have fitted an electro-magnetic braking system, which will stop the turbine if it goes past 100rpm. The brake will be applied automatically, even if all power is lost.

More information: http://www.skyrota.com/products_5KW.asp

Photo Gallery: http://www.skyrota.com/gallery.asp

SkyRota 5KW