Opportunities and Challenges for Micro Wind Turbines in Developing Communities

It is estimated that over 1.5 billion people do not have adequate access to electrical energy. In many cases, electrification through traditional centralized grid expansion is not a viable option. As such, community-scale micro grids have been developed in numerous locations. These systems often rely on renewable resources as their power source. This paper explores the opportunities and challenges of micro (subkilowatt) wind energy conversion systems for rural electrification in under-resourced communities. A brief overview of micro wind energy conversion system technology is provided. Recent field experiences are documented.