Skystream Clone?
BillF
Solar Expert Posts: 48 ✭✭
I missed this one at the AWEA conference. I just received an e-mail from "Hopeful Energy". Looks like there is a possible clone of the Skytream. It's from China, from a company formed in 2003. They offer a 5 year warranty on this downwind model they rate at 5kW output @ 12m/s with a 4.1m rotor. I wonder if the NREL has tested it?
www.hopefulenergy.com/e/new.asp?id=35
Does anyone know anything about it or remember seeing it in Chicago?
www.hopefulenergy.com/e/new.asp?id=35
Does anyone know anything about it or remember seeing it in Chicago?
Comments
swwp is now affiliated with a chinese company and this may be the same one you are referring to. i don't remember the name of it, but i'm sure it was placed on the forum somewhere and i'll give you odds where that is.
This appears to be the Chinese Mfg. of the Skystream + SS Clone
-Bill
appears to possibly be separate companies. maybe they are now ripping off swwp like swwp was ripping off its customers?
Here is a snip from the e-mail:
The Airforce 4.1 model is independently-tested CE-certified, utilities gearless,
direct drive architecture, unique permanent magnet generator, and integrated
SMA inverter to provide best-in-class wind energy capture. Also, the Airforce
4.1 requires minimum maintenance, carries industry standard 5-yr warranty
They included a pdf brochure of the unit. It is no surprise that a Chinese company is copying, if at least partially, the SS3.7 design. It seems there are numerous Bergey XL1, AIR303/403 and Whisper 100/200 clones out there now. At least with this turbine the inverter is a SMA ground mounted product.
LOL!!!!!!!:p
That absolutely is a copy of the Skystream. Basically, it's the Skystream minus the hatch cover and different blades. Even the yaw cover is the same. But I doubt SWWP authorized this copy. Serves them right. You know what they say: You lay down with dogs, you wake up with fleas. You do business with China, they copy your product and sell it themselves.
I love the name: "Hopeful Energy". Boy, they got that right!
And they may have even improved on the old SS... They are using an off-the-self wind GT inverter on the ground. Cloned and pwned.
-Bill
You can also bet the price will be much lower than Skystream. They'll probably go after SWWP's current customers, as well as their hoped-for accounts. And, indeed, they got it right as far as using an off-shelf inverter and putting in on the ground. However, before Hopeful Energy can compete, they have to get their turbine UL listed to sell it here for grid tie.
UL / NRTL should not be a big issue for Hopeful if this factory produces other product for sale in the US--They probably already have the basic infrastructure...
-Bill
It will be interesting to watch this one. That they chose an off-the-shelf inverter tells me they've done some research, if you know what I mean.;)