This is a specification page. Better Generation do not sell this product.
The Skystream 3.7 (named after the size of the blades) is a 2.4kW rated turbine made by Southwest Windpower in the USA.
It is aimed at the domestic market, and comes with a number of different tower heights.
Wind turbines
Swept area
The Skystream 3.7 has a blade diameter of 3.72 metres. This means it has a swept area, or capture area of 10.87 square metres. This is all important when comparing wind turbines, since it directly relates to the amount of passing wind energy
the turbine blades can intercept.
Skystream 3.7 power output curve
The graph below shows the power produced (in watts) for the Skystream 3.7 at different wind speeds, based on
data supplied by the manufacturer.
The green line shows the actual output that the wind turbine achieves at the given wind speed,
according to the manufacturers.The dashed line in the graph shows the theoretical maximum energy that this turbine could extract from the wind,
according to Betz's Law (59.3%). At a typical wind speed of 5 m/s, the Skystream 3.7 is extracting
203 Watts of power from the wind, which is an efficiency of 24.3%.
Wind turbines can only convert some of the energy in the wind into electricity. The graph here shows how efficient the
turbine is across the range of wind speeds you might get.
The orange line in the above graph shows the efficiency ranging from 0 to 1. The grey line is the previously mentioned maximum efficiency - The Betz Limit. If this limit is exceeded, the manufacturer's claims are not to be trusted!
While these graphs give an indication of the instantaneous power and efficiencies you might expect from the Skystream 3.7 turbine, working out annual power production is more complex.
The Skystream 3.7 has achieved MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) accreditation.
This means that this turbine's performance has been independently verified and any new installations of this device will be eligible to benefit from the UK's feed-in-tariff (FiT) scheme.
The Skystream 3.7 wind turbine in action
Skystream wind turbine in Washington DC at the US Botanic Gardens
video credit: swwindpower
Power output
This is a pretty serious machine which, with good siting will provide a decent amount of power.
Cost
The Skystream 3.7 costs between $12,000 (around £6,000) to $15,000 (£7,500) to purchase and install, although costs vary significantly depending on your site. The generator itself costs $5,400 (£2,700).
Segen are offering an installed Skystream for £8550 +VAT
Our view
We have no direct experience of this turbine. If you have any views or comments to add, please leave them below.
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