Renewable Energy
Wind Extras Warm Maine Islanders
A group of consumer-members of a coastal Maine co-op are testing whether the excess power generated by wind turbines can heat their homes and businesses affordably.
A pilot project at these turbines, owned by a Maine co-op, is converting excess wind power into heat. (Photo By: Peter Ralston/Island Institute)
Under the heating pilot project, a citizens group, on behalf of Fox Islands Electric Co-op, Vinalhaven, has installed electric thermal storage units at six sites to absorb excess energy and convert it into heat.
The project will determine whether the units can offset the high cost of oil and kerosene, a typical source of heating in New England.
“The idea is to take off-peak energy generated during the nighttime hours by wind, sell it to members at lower prices to fuel their storage heaters, and then utilize the heaters to heat their homes during the day,” said Charles Farrington, general manager and CEO of Fox Islands Electric Co-op, which owns the three-turbine wind farm.
There’s plenty of wind energy to spare. During this first winter of their operation, the turbines generated an excess of 600 megawatts monthly, according to George Baker, a vice president at the Island Institute, which oversees the citizens group running the pilot project.
So far, fuel bills at the six homes and businesses taking part in the pilot have decreased by 30 to 40 percent, said Baker. The participants, which include a historical society and a greenhouse, “still use heating oil, but they’re not using as much.”
Just as important as lower fuel bills, said Baker, the project will seek to address the complex issue of whether power produced intermittently can be stored and used when needed. As more renewables come on line, he said, “the ability to store energy becomes incredibly important.”
The project will run through the end of May, when the heating season ends. If all goes well, the institute wants to expand the project to include electric cars and up to 50 participants using the thermal heaters.
Tags: Renewable Energy, Wind Energy