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Greenbush is now further equipped to serve kids with the addition of our wind turbine. The turbine is 60 feet tall and is located adjacent to Abernathy Science Education Center in order to be an integral part of hands-on learning experiences at Greenbush. The turbine is a fully functioning generator that is actively producing electricity for the Greenbush campus by harnessing the kinetic energy of the wind.
What are the specifications of the turbine?
The turbine at Greenbush is a Skystream 3.7 capable of generating up to 1.9kW of electricity. Southwest Windpower in Flagstaff, Arizona manufactures the turbine.
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Why install a wind turbine?
Wind energy is an alternative source of energy. Kansas is situated perfectly both geographically and politically to be a major contributor for wind energy production. Students who have the exposure to this technology now will be leaders in this industry tomorrow. Furthermore, the turbine will serve to reduce the amount electricity consumed via burning of fossil fuels and preventing the resulting greenhouse gasses to be released into the atmosphere. |
How was the turbine funded?
Materials were provided through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind for Schools program. Grant approval and partnership with Kansas State University allowed Greenbush to be selected as a site to receive the turbine.
Who are the partners involved?
Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Kansas State University, O'Toole Construction and Windstorm Corporation aided in the process of making a wind turbine a reality for southeast Kansas.
At what wind speed will the turbine spin?
The wind turbine will spin when the wind speed is at or above approximately 8 miles per hour. The turbine was constructed at a height of 60 feet so as to obtain the maximum amount of wind speed possible. This makes the turbine both functional and accessible.
How much energy will the turbine produce?
The generator inside the turbine is rated at 1.9kW, meaning that it will not provide all the electricity for Greenbush, but instead is a means to not use as much electricity that would otherwise be produced by fossil fuels.
To view our Wind Turbine's status with updates every 10 minutes, click HERE!
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