The WIU Wind Turbine is a 2.4 kW Skystream 3.7 model. It was installed by Sky Yield Renewable Energy and put online in 2012.
WIU Installs Small Wind Turbine
By WIU University Relations, December 12, 2012
A small wind turbine was installed Dec. 6 at Western Illinois University to serve as a curriculum resource, while addressing sustainability goals of the University as part of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs’ (IIRA) Illinois Wind for Schools project. Installation of the 70 foot, 2.4 kW (kilowatt) turbine and tower has been completed just west of Western’s Harry Mussatto Golf Course. According to Fred Iutzi, IIRA renewable energy program manager, the turbine will serve as an on-site classroom for high school and junior high school students from around the state. Read more>>
WIU Wind Turbine Real-Time Data Available Online
OpenEI is growing into a global leader in the energy data realm – specifically analyses on renewable energy and energy efficiency. The platform is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia’s Wiki, with which many people are already familiar. Users can view, edit, and add data – and download data for free.
From 2005 to 2013, the U.S. Department of Energy funded the Wind for Schools project, which helped develop a future wind energy workforce by engaging students at higher education institutions to join Wind Application Centers and serve as project consultants for small wind turbine installations at rural elementary and secondary schools. Teacher training and hands-on curricula were implemented at each K-12 host school to bring the wind turbine into the classroom through interactive and interschool research tasks, engaging young people interested in science. WIU’s wind turbine is included in this national database and its data can be viewed in The Wind for Schools Portal here.