The company says its Skye turbine has a fully integrated hydraulically hinged tower, designed to be lowered and raised by one operator using a wrench. It has its power pack located in the tower base and Orenda claims this innovative technology makes Skye the most durable and efficient medium wind turbine currently available.
It adds that its patented ‘tilt’ mechanism has been designed to alleviate the need for extensive and costly maintenance with servicing carried out ‘in-situ’ – a vitally important measure in hostile terrain or rural environments where there is little road access for cranes or heavy lifting gear. From a health and safety perspective, there is no need to climb the tower and hence, no need for a climbing certificate.
In the rare event of extreme storm conditions, such as tornado or hurricane, the turbine can also be tilted and lowered to the ground thereby offering a degree of asset protection, rather than be fully exposed to the elements.
Steve McMahon, vp sales and marketing for Orenda Energy Solutions, said: “The launch of the Skye 51kW wind turbine marks the arrival of Orenda into the UK wind renewables marketplace. Our research and development work focuses on best-in-class applications, so we’ll continue to innovate and create the most advanced small and medium wind turbines available to the farming, landowning, rural business and investor communities.
“The Skye turbine is designed to help users generate best in class financial returns from the government’s Feed-In Tariffs. It also helps safeguard against rising electricity costs and provides an excellent return on investment.”