Japanese wind turbine technology generating research at the University of Nebraska Kearney

Posted on | May 19, 2010 | No Comments

MAY 18, 2010 (KEARNEY, NEB.)—Shungo Saito, senior sales manager for the North American operation of NIKKO Company, a Tokyo, Japan-based wind turbine manufacturer, today unveiled the NIKKO 1kW turbine as part of a joint relationship with the University of Nebraska Kearney (UNK). The NIKKO/UNK project now enables physics students and faculty at UNK to conduct research projects involving the collection of data on wind speeds and energy generation.The UNK installation location, which was identified by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), in cooperation with Nebraska’s Tokyo office during a 2009 visit to Japan, celebrates the shared interests in energy opportunities.

Joining Mr. Saito for the unveiling and dedication at the University’s Nebraska Safety Center Driving Range were UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen, Dr. Kenneth Trantham, chair of UNK’s Department of Physics and Physical Science,  Richard Baier, director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, David Dingman energy policy advisor with the Nebraska Energy Office, and Kearney Mayor Stanley Clouse.

“What we’re really about here today is the business of further strengthening an already great relationship between Japan and Nebraska,” said Richard Baier, DED director. “Specifically, we’re here to celebrate the mutual alternative energy opportunities that exist between Japan and Nebraska, and DED is pleased it could bring together the interests and needs of NIKKO and the University of Nebraska Kearney in a way that will benefit so many, including business communities, higher educational institutions and citizens.”

The 1kW turbine is a 1.98 meter (6.5-feet diameter) tri-composite wing span, and mounted on a 45-foot pole manufactured by Valmont Industries in Valley, Neb. The turbine includes a unique technology involving a rubber mount that stretches the rotating wings from the ‘centrifugal force’ in such a way that controls its speed. It is considered a “downstream” turbine, meaning that the rotating wings trail the unit as the housing points into the wind, allowing it to passively follow any changes in wind direction.

The turbine’s installation at UNK also includes supplemental solar collection panels that add additional power capability, an energy-efficient LED street light, storage batteries and a data logging computer.

The ultimate objective of this venture is to install these turbines on residential acreages throughout rural and remote parts of the country. Each turbine will easily run a small refrigerator or a house full of energy efficient florescent or LED lights (40 watts x 25 fixtures = 1000 W) depending on wind availability. Because the UNK-installed NIKKO turbine includes batteries, lighter loads can be run more intermittently without immediately available wind.

Nebraska is literally in the center of the growing wind generation and manufacturing industry. Its strategic geographic location enables same day interstate, rail and air access to most of the nation’s top producing regional wind product manufacturers and suppliers.

The state ranks fourth nationally in potential wind energy generation, with an estimated 918,000 MW of total installed wind generation capacity, which basically translates to all wind energy it can produce at 80 meters.

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