Bergey Windpower's newest product is the 1,000 Watt BWC XL.1.The BWC XL.1 is currently available only as a 24 VDC battery-charging system.However, we expect to introduce a batteryless grid-intertie version (like our 10 kW GridTek system) in late 2003 (this project has been delayed).

      With a rotor diameter of 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) and a peak output of approximately 1,600 watts the XL.1 is intended for the off-grid home market in the U.S. and for rural electrification programs in developing countries.It is also a perfect upgrade system for current owners of micro-turbines, such as the Air 303 or 403.

      The XL.1 is an up-wind, horizontal-axis, three- bladed turbine.  The blades are pultruded fiberglass, a material that is over ten times stronger than the injection- molded plastic used on most small wind turbines.  In fact, pultrusions have a breaking strength exceeding 100,000 psi, which is twice as strong as normal steel.  "Just about any blade material will hold up in light to moderate winds.  But, when the storms come, weak blades can put the whole system at risk."  And the new BWC SH3045 airfoil makes the XL.1's blade probably the most efficient ever on a small wind turbine.

      The photo to the right shows an XL.1 installed by Brooks Solar (Chelan, WA) at a renewable energy trade fair in Oregon.

      The blades attach directly to a specially designed very-low-speed permanent magnet alternator which uses state-of-the-art neodymium super- magnets.  "We have designed an oversized alternator that slows the rotor down and makes the turbine very quiet."  Overspeed protection is provided by the proven BWC AutoFurl passive sideways furling system.  "In spite of the claims otherwise, no other overspeed protection system has proven to be more reliable or effective than AutoFurl."    

      The XL.1 includes the BWC PowerCenter controller which controls battery charging, has a low-end boost for superior low wind speed performance, "slow-mode" rotor idling when the batteries are full, an electrical braking system, and even includes a 30 A controller for the solar modules that are often a part of a complete hybrid system.  The PowerCenter allows an auxiliary or "dump" load to be connected to utilize excess wind (and/or solar) power after the batteries are fully charged.

      Low wind speed performance is greatly enhanced by a low-end-boost circuit that optimally loads the wind turbine down to wind speeds as low as 5.6 mph (2.5 m/s).Combined with the new blade system, this circuitry allows the XL.1 to produce useful power more than 6,000 hours a year at a typical site.For reference, a typical solar system produces power 3,500 hours a year at a typical site.

      The XL.1 is offered with a tubular Tilt-up tower in heights from 9 m (30 ft) to 32 m (104 ft).  These kits will be be easy to install and will offer customers a complete "ready to install" kit.  "There's been a need for more complete integration between turbine and tower packages for small wind turbines and we think our new line will fill that gap."

      The Owners Manual and the Installation Manual for the XL.1 are available on-line as PDF files.  See the links below.

XL.1 Specifications

Type:  3 Blade Upwind
Rotor Diameter:  2.5 m (8.2 ft.)

Start-up Wind Speed:  3 m/s (6.7 mph)
Cut-in Wind Speed:  2.5 m/s (5.6 mph)
Rated Wind Speed:  11 m/s (24.6 mph)
Rated Power:  1000 Watts

Maximum Power: ~ 1,600 Watts
Cut-Out Wind Speed:  None
Furling Wind Speed:  13 m/s (29 mph)
Max. Design Wind Speed:  54 m/s (120 mph)

Blade Pitch Control:  None, Fixed Pitch
Overspeed Protection:  AutoFurl
Gearbox:  None, Direct Drive
Temperature Range:  -40 to +60 Deg. C (-40 to +140 Deg. F)

Generator:  Permanent Magnet Alternator
Output Form: 24 VDC Nominal

BWC EXCEL 10KW Wind Turbine

      The BWC EXCEL is a modern 6.7 meter (22 ft) diameter, 10,000W wind turbine designed for high reliability, low maintenance, and automatic operation in adverse weather conditions. It is available in three configurations: battery charging, water pumping, and grid-connected.  The BWC Excel is a ruggedly built turbine that comes with the longest warranty (5 years) in the industry. 

      Battery charging BWC EXCEL's can be supplied with outputs of 48, 120 or 240 VDC. They are well suited for large rural homes, remote villages and facilities, eco-tourism resorts, and larger telecommunications sites.

Example Projects.