Question 1

What makes Flower Turbines special?

Accepted Answer

We try to solve all the issues of small wind turbines that could prevent them from being used in a tight environment, near people, and near and on buildings. As a starter, they must be quiet and pleasing to the eye.

Our biggest game changer is that our wind turbines perform better when close together.

Our turbines start at lower speeds. Click here (https://vimeo.com/778350752)(https://vimeo.com/778350752) for a video of our turbines starting at 0.7 m/s. Most turbines start at 3 m/s.
We also provide solar and charging solutions for e-bikes so you can also encourage clean transportation.

Question 2

How much power do the turbines generate?

Accepted Answer

This depends on the wind speed, the size, and the number of turbines. We have several models.
Our smallest turbine produces 36.5 W/h at 10m/s of wind. This is a carefully measured point.

Here is a power curve for two small turbines. It was measured while recording on the back of a truck.

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bd2d84_696115aa5b304af99b406dbb6150beef~mv2.png

Here is a power curve for the medium size done in the EU in a real installation. We have not yet performed standardized truck testing for this size.

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bd2d84_0be6b58331ae40b39db45be0180f2647~mv2.png

Because of our revolutionary Bouquet Effect (the turbines make their neighbors perform better), two turbines together produce around 25% more each than two turbines separately. Our current testing indicates that you can add 25% to the performance of each one for each turbine you add. So three turbines together produce 75% more than three separate turbines.

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bd2d84_a9736c1dbb954cc8b8df0731082f93b9~mv2.png

To see the difference it makes, here is the power curve for a single one of our 3 meter blade height Tulip and then the same turbine in a group of 10:

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f810b5_fe3bf9129da245d5937bb645edc5a4ac~mv2.png

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f810b5_42021d262a12495baa9b9459a8565053~mv2.png
The Power Curve for our Large tulip is here will be available soon.

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f810b5_5aef36ff890a4ee18710bc9b053fab84~mv2.png

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f810b5_9b62e0c776be4ab1be15bb1473569a27~mv2.png
The table below shows how many watts are produced per hour by a singular turbine in various wind speeds: Our FAQ page lets you enter the number of turbines in your project and see the results by size and wind speed.

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bd2d84_c45695bb6ed742f197a4e51f03a1f223~mv2.png

Question 3

What is off-grid and what is on-grid?

Accepted Answer

On grid means that you attach your system to the utility. Off grid means that you live
independent of the utility and provide all your own power.

An on-grid system doesn’t need a battery because you use electricity and sell your extra
electricity to the grid and use grid electricity when your wind system doesn’t produce enough. In effect, the grid is your safety backup.

If you disconnect from the grid, it means that you need extra capacity to make sure you can charge your batteries, and that your batteries have enough capacity to carry you through periods of no wind and no sun, if you own solar. Having wind and solar together gives you a greater
chance of being able to recharge your batteries in all circumstances.

You have to determine the capacity of your batteries by looking at your electric usage and by knowing how long, in the worst case, you might have no wind (or no solar) energy feeding the battery. To go off-grid, you should plan on having extra energy capacity and extra battery
capacity for worst case scenarios.

In an off-grid system, your wind turbine’s output passes through a charge controller into a battery and from there into an off-grid inverter, which synchronizes to the voltage (120 or 240) of your house or building without synchronizing to the grid.
In a world of inflated energy costs, it could be advantageous to be independent and take control over your power. If you are interested in this, with or without solar, you can fill out the Project Detail Form and contact support.us@flowerturbines.com . If you are in the EU, contact
support.eu@flowerturbines.com . If you are doing this with your local solar installer, you can put the two of us in touch.

Question 4

What size turbine should you pick?

Accepted Answer

You can adjust your available space and the power available from the different turbines. The bigger and larger the turbines, the more cost effective, in general. One has to take installation costs into account. Our wind turbines perform more efficiently when properly oriented to utilize our Bouquet Effect.
Here is a table about the way to locate the different sizes, in general:
Size                                                                             Location
Large (6 meters high)                                         Land or very strong roof
Medium (2 meters high)                                    Land or strong roof
Mini (1 meters high)                                            Land or regular roof

Question 5

When do you get your wind turbine?

Accepted Answer

The estimated shipping date from the ordering date is 6 – 15 weeks. We are happy to provide you with an estimated delivery date. Please contact us.

Question 6

How do you choose the right product?

Accepted Answer

We would be happy to help you to choose the right wind turbines to reach your sustainable development goals after you read the guidance resources on the website.

Please fill out the P(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2OJWnyEwZ7BZNi187P9Q-LDW9ysOjgSxnSMC-XI8kH407aA/viewform)roject Detail Form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2OJWnyEwZ7BZNi187P9Q-LDW9ysOjgSxnSMC-XI8kH407aA/viewform)and contact us by email at
support.eu@flowerturbines.com or support.us@flowerturbines.com for the rest of the world.

Question 7

Can I order more than one unit at a time?

Accepted Answer

You should because then you benefit from the Bouquet Effect of the turbines making their neighbors perform more efficiently.

Question 8

How many wind turbines will power a house?

Accepted Answer

How many turbines will power my house or business? We can answer that if we know your electricity consumption, the wind speed, the size of your property—on the ground or on the roof– and the size and quantity of wind turbines you can fit.

When you ask this question, we ask you to think about your goals and communicate them to us if needed. Many people just want to replace their carbon footprint. We believe that is a great objective, but you may have room to get a better return on investment by making more electricity than you use. Other people want to match their consumption because the utility doesn’t pay so much for extra power you send back. Since renewable energy is variable, we recommend not worrying whether the utility will get some cheap electricity from you but rather try to approximate your usage.

Question 9

Are these turbines certified?

Accepted Answer

Our whole products are not yet UL or CE certified. We are in the process of getting these certifications. You will have to speak with your local city ordinance to obtain permits and permissions. The part that is really important for certification is the inverter that connects to the grid, and we use only UL or CE inverters. Most of the charge controllers we build ourselves using only standard UL/CE quality or certified electronics. The ones we buy are all CE certified. All the generators are CE certified.

Question 10

Can this power my house/gym/lights?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the turbine size, number, and your wind speed and the power consumed by your house/gym/lights.

Question 11

When will it be available in Australia/Peru/India/Argentina/Costa Rica/etc?

Accepted Answer

We can sell to all these countries from the US if you want to pay shipping costs. We have a minimum order of $20,000 for South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.

Our EU office handles the EU. We are in the process of discussing joint ventures in China and India that will enable customers in those countries to take advantage of cheaper, locally produced products, so you can wait till then. And of course contact the EU office for sales in the EU.

Question 12

Do you have a price list?

Accepted Answer

For countries outside of Europe, the prices are on our US store. Our EU staff sells projects so each project is priced differently and there is no price list. Note that our shipping costs change all the time in today’s business environment so the price of shipping can change when it is time to ship them.

Question 13

What is the duration and coverage of the warranty?

Accepted Answer

Five years on parts we produce. Parts that we purchase assume the warranty that the supplier offers. We build the turbines with the aim that they should last 20-40 years.

Question 14

Do you have a list of locations where you have installed turbines?

Accepted Answer

We would not give the private locations so as not to disturb private citizens, but you can see where they are installed in several municipalities in Europe, such as Rotterdam, Nisseward, and others.

Some clients put our turbines on their website, such as the towns of Middleburg and Nisseward. You can also see them by going to a Coldplay concert and viewing the turbines on top of their lighting towers. We post occasional projects on our social media sites.

Question 15

What is the lifetime of the turbines?

Accepted Answer

We build them to last 20-40 years.

Question 16

Do the turbines come with batteries?

Accepted Answer

As a default, no. We could provide them. In general, we recommend that you purchase batteries yourself locally because they are heavy. We have some links in our shop to models we recommend for use with our smaller off-grid projects.

Question 17

How many turbines have we sold?

Accepted Answer

Over 50

Question 18

What are the transportation costs?

Accepted Answer

Some on our web store in the US are automatic. Internationally, it is a custom quotation.

Question 19

What is the estimated delivery time?

Accepted Answer

1-6 months depending on the model. This is once the order is fulfilled and shipped from our warehouse.

Question 20

Do you deliver the turbines in one piece?

Accepted Answer

Yes for the smaller models. The large models and the charging and installation systems require some assembly. As with all products, an inverter should be installed by a licensed electrician.

Question 21

Can I put my logo on a turbine?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Contact our support staff for a consultation at support.us@flowerturbines.com (mailto:support.us@flowerturbines.com)or support.eu@flowerturbines.com.(mailto:support.eu@flowerturbines.com)

Question 22

Is the output AC or DC and what is the voltage?

Accepted Answer

This is a complicated question. The electronics for a wind turbine are put together in several steps.The voltage can be different at each step and vary according to wind speed. The shaft is connected to a generator that produces unusable AC. That electricity passes through a rectifier as part of a charge controller that produces DC. At that point, the DC electricity can be used to (1) power DC appliances, (2) charge a battery that then powers an inverter, (3) power an inverter directly. If it powers a battery, the voltage needs to match the battery voltage.

The voltage from the inverter is 110 in the US and other countries and 220 in Europe and other countries.

Question 23

How much do I pay for custom colors?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the turbine size.

Question 24

Do the turbines present problems with harmonic vibration?

Accepted Answer

It is a potential problem but you don’t have to worry about this with Flower Turbines.

We measured that for our medium size turbine in the wind tunnel at the University of Delft. The resonance bumped a little higher at wind of 13-14 meters per second (which is rare) and it was well within safe ranges and very low at all wind speeds.

Question 25

Where can I find the sound test reports?

Accepted Answer

You can view it h(https://www.flowerturbines.com/_files/ugd/bd2d84_1e734e77e7204ffb9f949b8f4e8dd831.pdf)ere.(https://www.flowerturbines.com/_files/ugd/bd2d84_1e734e77e7204ffb9f949b8f4e8dd831.pdf) In short, our turbines add no noise to the wind. In fact, they decrease it.

Question 26

Do you sell batteries to store energy produced by the turbines?

Accepted Answer

While batteries are generally not included in our products and current pricing, we are happy to accommodate in helping you decide what battery is best for you and, adding it to your purchase.

Just include this request in your p(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2OJWnyEwZ7BZNi187P9Q-LDW9ysOjgSxnSMC-XI8kH407aA/viewform)roject detail form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2OJWnyEwZ7BZNi187P9Q-LDW9ysOjgSxnSMC-XI8kH407aA/viewform)or by reaching out to support.us@flowerturbines.com for stateside and global customers, or support.eu@flowerturbines.com if you are located in Europe.

Question 27

Do I get a discount when I buy a lot of turbines?

Accepted Answer

If it is a large project, yes.
The larger quantities shown on the website as packages have the discount built into the price.
When you get large quantities, the Bouquet Effect provides the equivalent of a discount.

Question 28

What is the starting speed of the turbines?

Accepted Answer

Our turbines start spinning at less than 1 meter per second (2 miles per hour). It produces little, but we start making some useful energy at around 2 m/s. Remember that other turbines usually start spinning at 3 m/s and start producing useful energy at 4 m/s.

Question 29

What’s the difference between this and any other horizontal wind turbine - a similar shape for a fraction of the price?

Accepted Answer

Flower Turbines indeed are more expensive than horizontal axis turbines in general and you can find some very cheap ones for sale. There is more to turbines than initial price so they really aren’t competitive.

1.The fan-type ones are noisier, not so pretty, and more dangerous for people and wildlife, so harder to use near buildings and people. The horizontal axis ones may be more cost-effective in an isolated field; that is a different market. Ones that are very cheap we have observed falling apart quickly and dangerously.

2. The horizontal ones, especially the cheap ones, require much more maintenance or may fall apart completely after a short time. You have to look at the total cost of ownership. Horizontal axis turbines require more maintenance and break down faster because they are not symmetrical.

3. You may not get in practice what they claim.

4. Flower Turbines start producing electricity at lower wind speeds.

Question 30

Can I save on my electric bill?

Accepted Answer

The savings will depend on your wind speed and the price you pay the utility. In general, the largest size is currently the most cost-effective one, and they are meant to be bought in a cluster. Just like buying many solar panels at one time is more cost-effective than buying and installing one at a time.

When considering your utility bill, don’t forget to look at all the taxes and fees that might be added to your cost per kilowatt hour. You don’t have to pay those taxes with our energy.

Another important consideration is energy inflation. The cost of buying from utilities is going up, whereas, when purchasing your own system, the electricity it saves you is worth more each year.

Question 31

Do they freeze up when not running?

Accepted Answer

We can’t guarantee it, but our turbines can operate in the snow! See our video below.
https://vimeo.com/513281831 (https://vimeo.com/513281831)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ezW61jrkw4

Question 32

A Government subsidized industry?

Accepted Answer

There are many incentives available in many countries for renewable energy. We are trying to make this work without the need for government funding.

Question 33

What's the weight of each turbine?

Accepted Answer

See the brochures on the web site for the latest figures, as each version changes slightly and depends on options. For approximate use: Small: 50 kg. Medium: 200 kg. Large: 1000 kg.

Question 34

How many turbines do I need to be cost effective?

Accepted Answer

The more the better and the larger the better. That means a lower cost of installation per turbine and more cluster effect. The cost-effectiveness also depends on your wind speed and cost of electricity.

Question 35

Can I buy 2 different sizes? Do they all have to be the same size?

Accepted Answer

You can buy different sizes at the same time. You will have a better cluster effect if you put several of the same size next to each other.

Question 36

How much power do you get out of a Flower Turbine in a year?

Accepted Answer

This depends on the size of the turbine, the number of turbines properly oriented in a bouquet, and the wind speed.

If you want to find out how much power a certain average wind speed generates per year, then multiply that number by 8760 hours and, if the answer is in watts, divide by 1000 to get kilowatt hours per year.

We have four sizes of Tulip wind turbines: small, medium, medium large, and large. The large is equivalent to the new, fully stacked AL13 Power Tower. Please note this table lists the output of individual turbines on their own. Properly positioning bouquets of turbines to utilize our patented Bouquet Effect dramatically increases the efficiency of each unit. The Power Tower has more sizes since it consists of 1-meter high stackable modules from 1 to 6 modules.

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bd2d84_1efb20dd48be4dcebd9c6abc8621c85d~mv2.png

Question 37

What is the durability and expected life of the blades?

Accepted Answer

We build them to last at least 20 years. We tested them at 20 meters per second in a wind tunnel for an extended time and there were no problems. We tested them on top of a truck at 120.8 mph (54 m/s) and there were no problems. Watch our video of the testing:
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/819559089(https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/819559089)

https://youtu.be/GzcaHExhElk

Question 38

Are they vertical axis magnetic levitation wind turbines?

Accepted Answer

Vertical axis but not levitation.

Question 39

Are the blades recyclable?

Accepted Answer

This is an important issue. The way it is being solved in Europe is by using them to make concrete. In addition, the company Vestas recently announced that they have a chemical way to recycle them. Our blades are ABS plastic. We also have a large aluminum blade model, which is of course easy to recycle.

Question 40

Do you make your own electronics?

Accepted Answer

We use off the shelf electronics for the generators and inverters, but have started to produce our own charge controllers in the US and will gradually phase them in and add more features to them. We have numerous patents on electronics which we believe will redefine the small wind industry, but it will take time and money to put the concepts into production.

Question 41

Are your turbines made of anti-corrosive material?

Accepted Answer

Fiberglass and plastic are not corrosive. Aluminum tends to have a white oxide outer layer in a very salty environment but does not corrode. Certain types of steel are resistant and we coat exposed parts as needed. For sales near the sea, we recommend such protection and you should contact us before buying for such a location for special treatment and costs. We are making certain parts to be corrosion resistant by default.

Question 42

Can they stand up to corrosion caused by being practically on the beach?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if properly treated.

Question 43

How can I figure out what products best suit my needs?

Accepted Answer

You can fill out the Project Detail Form here to let us know the specifics of your project, and what you're looking to achieve:
Click Here(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2OJWnyEwZ7BZNi187P9Q-LDW9ysOjgSxnSMC-XI8kH407aA/viewform)

Question 44

Is a small wind turbine enough to charge a battery or to be used by an inverter?

Accepted Answer

Yes, usually overnight. The answer depends on wind speed, capacity of battery, etc.

Question 45

I would like my turbines on a shorter/longer pole, are they modular?

Accepted Answer

Email us or fill out our p(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2OJWnyEwZ7BZNi187P9Q-LDW9ysOjgSxnSMC-XI8kH407aA/viewform)roject detail form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2OJWnyEwZ7BZNi187P9Q-LDW9ysOjgSxnSMC-XI8kH407aA/viewform)to give us some specifics on your request, and we are happy to work with you to customize your order.

Question 46

Can I get a tax credit on a Flower Turbine?

Accepted Answer

Yes, The Residential Clean Energy Credit equals 30% of the costs of new, qualified clean energy property for your home installed anytime from 2022 through 2032. Learn more at i(https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/residential-clean-energy-credit)rs.gov(https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/residential-clean-energy-credit)

Question 47

Is there a minimum order?

Accepted Answer

For areas outside the US and EU, the minimum order is $20,000.

Question 48

Do you offer financing?

Accepted Answer

PNC Bank is interested in working with Flower Turbines customers. They are offering Unsecured Small Business Loans of $20,000-100,000 without collateral — contact them directly.

Question 49

What can I expect out of the Survival Unit?

Accepted Answer

It is important to understand what the Survival Unit is capable of and how you should use it.
The ideal use for the Survival Unit is for situations where the grid has stopped functioning due to high winds. The unit enables charging of batteries that can have some important uses during these times. When the wind is around 22 mph, you can expect around 36 watts each hour. The turbine will produce its maximum at around 32 mph, which is 100 watts per hour.

Above that speed, you won’t gain much power, so you should move it to a location where the wind is at that speed.

You will do best with two batteries, one to recharge while the other is in use.
This is most useful at a time when there is no alternative. The grid goes down and you don’t have a generator for the house, or the generator runs out of fuel.
Realistic uses of the battery power during that time include:

• Charging a cell phone
 • Using a cup water heater
 • Providing some heat for an electric blanket for a limited time
 • Recharging emergency communication devices
 • LED lights and flashlights

It is not realistic to expect the Survival Unit e to charge the battery sufficiently to provide more than a limited charge to a refrigerator, or to enable computer use for more than a limited time.

The Survival Unit has applications when there is no emergency, but you want to charge your batteries sustainably. In these cases, when winds are slower, the charge is unlikely to be more than 10 watts per hour.
You can supplement the wind energy with electricity from a solar panel. During an emergency, you can connect both the solar panel and Survival Unit to the battery at the same time.

Exercise good battery care. Recharge your battery occasionally to make sure it doesn't die. You can use the charger that usually accompanies your battery to do so, ensuring a battery is always at full charge. Only use batteries from safe and recognized brands due to fire hazards from lithium batteries.

A general storage recommendation is to place it in the garage and roll it out when needed.

SAFETY:

Use sandbags inside the cooler portion to weigh it down.

Place the unit in a location where people and children can’t reach it. Inside a wire fence that is locked or child-proof is ideal. Although it is safer than many other turbines because it spins with a smooth side forward, the blades absolutely should not be touched when spinning.

Do not try to charge from the turbine’s charge controller directly. Disconnect the battery and use the battery. A smart battery will usually have multiple ways to use its power.

Question 50

How do you handle corrosion?

Accepted Answer

Corrosion in a very salty environment can be handled by the use of stainless steel and/or special coatings, but it is not a guaranteed solution. Even with the best of coatings, some corrosion usually occurs within 10 years. Regular inspection and some coatings and sprays may help prolong the lifetime of metal parts. Careful installation to avoid nicks in the coatings is essential. There are some advantages to using aluminum blades because often, even if there is corrosion, it may form a whitish oxide coating that protects against further corrosion, but there is no guarantee this will happen. Our warranty cannot include protection against corrosion because it varies so much in different locations.

So what should our customers do in practice? First it is very important to tell us that your project is in an area of high corrosion potential and we will add coatings and use stainless steel wherever needed. There may be a charge for that. We can ask our generator supplier to add coatings. That always involves a small extra charge because they charge us extra. The customer can help. Quick sealing of scratches prevents corrosion damage.

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