VMI To Host Booth at RENEW 09 Conference

June 23 – 24 VMI will host a booth at RENEW 09 in Tucumcari, New Mexico. RENEW 09: Empowering the Land is the only conference of its kind in the nation specifically designed to match landowners, ranchers, and developers with industry leaders in the rapidly emerging, renewable energy sector. RENEW 09 is designed to be a “nuts & bolts” conference that is packed with “actionable” information on how you can best capture wind, sun and other alternative energy sources to reap an economic return.

For more information about the conference go to www.empoweringtheland.com

Sandia National Lab Testing

Sandia National Lab scientist, Todd Griffith, strikes the turbine tower with an instrumented sledgehammer to excite structural vibrations for analysis.

Sandia National Lab Tests Turbine

Sandia National Laboratories Analytical Structural Dynamics Department has completed two days of on-site testing and data gathering at the Clines Corners turbine site. The tests looked at the vibration characteristics of the turbine and how they compare with those predicted by their computer modeling. The accuracy of the computer modeling is critical to the design of the next generation beta VP100.

Lab personal attached accelerometers and strain gauges with glue and magnets to the turbine. Striking, pulling or rotating then vibrated the turbine structure. The resulting vibrations were recorded by the Lab’s portable data acquisition system for analysis.

Preliminary results of this week's testing confirm the accuracy of new turbine design modeling. Design of the beta turbine is largely complete.

VMI Seeks Venture Funding at Symposium

VMI is to present at the 16th annual Technology Ventures Equity Capital Symposium on May 6-7 in Albuquerque. Hosted by the Technology Ventures Corp., the forum gives investors nationwide and abroad an opportunity to invest in companies commercializing cutting-edge technologies. VMI will get 10 minutes on stage to present its case and will also host a booth.

VMI is seeking $2.5 million over the next two years to finance commercializing the VP100 series of turbines.

This year's 15 presenters were selected from a pool of 52 applicants and include nine companies from New Mexico. They are working with TVC project managers and teams of advisers to develop their business plans and package their funding proposals.

More information about the symposium can be found at www.techventures.org or at http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=038dbf5d-5e26-4279-b8ac-63637c3fcf3c

Clines Corners Turbine Development Continues

Up-grades to the VMI Clines Corners 60 kW prototype wind turbine have been installed and are undergoing testing. The upgrades include refinements to the blade attachment system, lengthening of the top torque tube, changes in the brakes, control software improvements and strengthening the lightning protection.

Initial indications are that the design changes are proving successful. If they are, they will be incorporated into the design of the new larger 75 kW turbine that is on the drawing board. The Wind Energy Technology Department at Sandia National Laboratory (Albuquerque, NM) is providing design support for the new turbine using their advanced computer modeling capabilities. The new turbine will be optimized for the maximum annual energy production and efficiency in converting wind energy to electricity.

The VMI vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) are designed to provide on site electrical power to businesses, farmers, schools and government. The VMI grid-tied turbines provide cost effective electrical power to the community renewable energy market. The VMI 60 kW prototype turbine supplies electrical power to the Clines Corner Retail Center, a locally owned filling station, curio shop and restaurant complex on I-40 in eastern New Mexico.

VP100 OPERATIONAL

The eighty-foot tall VP100 three bladed vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) became operational on September 24, 2007. The 480 volt three phase power from the turbine supplies the Central New Mexico Electric Coop grid in Clines Corners, New Mexico. Clines Corners is in east central New Mexico on Interstate 40 on the western edge of the Great Plains. Clines Corners was once on the historic Route 66 before the old road was replaced by I-40.

The turbine operation is fully automated and is programmed to begin generating power at winds speeds above 13 mph. The projected annual power production for the prototype is expected to be in the 50 megawatt hours per year range.

The research and development machine was built to demonstrate new proprietary technologies developed by Vawtpower Management, Inc. (VMI) with technical assistance from Sandia National Laboratory. Those innovations include cantilevered blade support unlike previous generations of guy wire supported turbines and a patent-pending blade attachment system designed to prevent blade fatigue. Site development was supported by Central New Mexico Electric Coop.

Extensive testing of the mechanical, pneumatic and electrical systems was completed in August.

TURBINE VIDEOS

Videos of the Vawtpower Management, Inc. (VMI) prototype wind turbine located in Clines Corners, New Mexico can be viewed by clicking the link under the heading Links on this web page.