Frequently Asked Questions
Product: When will SHAPEshifter turbines be available for purchase?
Construction of an initial field units is expected in the late 2012.
Manufacturing of the first commercial units is planned for the 2nd Quarter of 2013.Installation: Why should the turbines be mounted on a 60-80' tower?
Drag: Winds move more slowly at ground level due to ground drag (i.e., friction against the ground) and therefore wind speed increases with height above the ground. At a height of 70', the wind speed is double that at ground level.
Power from the Wind: A 60' to 80' tower places wind turbines above the affects of ground drag and turbulence (i.e., into a clean stream with a more constant speed), thereby increasing the harvestable power available and allowing the turbine to be considerably more productive in output.
Environment: Do wind turbines kill birds?
To most experts, the vast majority of research shows that wind turbines (of any shape, size, or speed) kill relatively few birds, at least compared with other man-made structures. Sadly, all together, human infrastructure and industrial activities are responsible for 1 - 4 million bird deaths per day! However, the Audubon Society endorses wind-power because “for every 10,000 birds killed by human activities, less than one death is caused by a wind turbine.”
How does all of this impact the homeowner who wishes to secure a building permit to install a small-scale wind power system on his or her property? While there have been any number of studies done on bird mortality caused by commercial wind power installations, none have been done on the impact of home-sized wind systems on birds. The reason? It is just not an issue, especially when large-scale wind power system impact on birds is considered biologically insignificant.
For the Birds: Audubon Society Stands Up in Support of Wind Energy
Putting wind power’s effect on birds in perspective