Wind Power

See www.TheSolarVillage.com for more information. Each wind turbine in the wind park near Freiburg cost 2 million Euros. Six of these 1.8 MWh wind turbines were installed at a cost of 13 million Euros. Out of this total individuals invested in a share of the operating company in order to provide 4.6 million in capital. Five hundred and twenty people invested a minimum of 3000 Euros. Each 3000 Euros generates 12000 kWh. Each investor gets money back over twenty years from2003 to 2023. Over this time each investor gets 280% of their money back. To start with each investor gets 3% in the first year, then 5% the next year until in the last year the investor gets 20%. The tower is 98 metres height. On the top is is the 100 tonne generator. The tower was made of concrete since it is too difficult to bring steel up the mountain. The concrete tower was constructed over about three weeks. Unlike the first generation of wind turbines this new generation has no gear. The blades turn 22 times per minute transforming DC to AC. 95% of German wind turbines are privately financed. People invest because they get money back. The federal subsidy makes it a good investment. Normal electricity has a once cent per kilowatt additional cost added so that wind and other renewable’s can be purchased at a premium. Wind gets paid a couple cents more than conventional power. Solar gets paid many times more.