After last year’s wind group convinced Jem and 3 Rivers Resort to install a wind turbine based on Dominica’s wind energy potential, the 2006 wind group began the process of an actual installation. As stated before, 3 Rivers Resort would use the power of a small wind turbine to power a few lights in its treehouse and other cottages on top of the hill behind the main 3 Rivers location. The chosen wind turbine was the Air X, made by Southwest Wind. The Air X turbine can be found online for as cheap as $500, plus mounting materials. It is rated at 400 W at 28mph, has a start-up speed of 8mph and a survival speed of 110 mph (which would be useful in any hurricane type weather in Dominica). This turbine is extra small (with a diameter of 46 inches) yet can still produce about 38 kWh per month at 12mph average winds.

Once getting to the site, it was determined by Jem to attach the turbine to a tree that was used as a support of the treehouse. We as a group do NOT recommend using a tree as support for a wind turbine, as there are many extra difficulties that arise in creating a stable support for the turbine. The tree was picked for its height (it rose above the canopy line) and its straightness, so the poles used to support the turbine could be easily strapped to the tree. To us white men who climb mountains and not trees, the tree was intimidating. There was not a student in the wind group willing to climb the tree, even with proper climbing gear as so long as there was no backup support in case one of us were to fall. Two Dominican workers of Jem, Richard and Lincoln, were capable of climbing the tree, so only when they were willing to make the climb would we have the opportunity to actually finish the install. Unfortunately, due to the importance of the hydro system work and weather related problems (no one would climb the tree in the rain), the turbine was not installed while we were in Dominica.

Other problems that came about in our process included the process of figuring out how to get the turbine and supporting poles up through the top of the canopy. It was decided that once someone had climbed the tree, using rope they would need to pull the turbine and poles up while a few pushed from the bottom. Next, whoever had climbed the tree would need to use the climbing gear on the way down to strap the poles in place. Finally, the turbine would be hoisted up in separate parts and installed on top of the tree.

With more information, including pictures and measurements, the wind group could have done the majority of planning before leaving Dominica, which might have allowed us the time necessary to get through the difficult tasks involved in installing the turbine while we were down there. While there was general disappointment that we were not able to get the turbine up and running, the wind group did learn a lot about the real-life problems that can come about while installing a wind turbine, while also getting the opportunity to work on a micro-hydro system (more good hands on experience) and taking part in energy efficiency work on the island. The most important thing learned is that classroom knowledge of a system does not translate into an easy installation process.