Application · Island & coastal

Island & coastal wind turbine

Islands pay the highest electricity prices on earth for diesel that arrives by boat. A coastal wind site is usually excellent — and our salt package is built for exactly this environment.

Coastal and island sites combine the two things small wind loves: unobstructed sea breeze of 5–7 m/s annual average and loads that currently run on expensive diesel. A 10 kW machine on a good channel site displaces 12,000–18,000 litres of fuel a year at a resort or fish-farm base.

The environment is the hard part. Our salt package upgrades every fastener to 316 stainless, seals the alternator with double lip seals, uses an anodised nacelle and a coated tower, and spec's the controller enclosure at IP65 with conformal-coated boards.

Typical load profile

Load	Power	Hours/day	Daily energy
Fish-farm aerators 2 × 1.1 kW	2,200 W	10 h	22 kWh
Desalination RO unit	1,800 W	6 h	10.8 kWh
Ice maker / cold room	2,500 W	5 h	12.5 kWh
Resort base load	1,200 W	24 h	28.8 kWh
Dock and path lighting	200 W	10 h	2 kWh

Recommended configuration

Recommended model: GH-A10K (10 kW) salt package on a 18 m tower
Storage: 48 V / 48 V–96 V bank, 40 kWh LFP
Hybrid: 10 kWp PV + 30 kVA diesel auto-start
Autonomy: 3 days at 25 kWh/day
Installed cost: USD 21,000 – 32,000
Diesel displaced: 12,000 – 18,000 litres/year

Salt, not wind, kills coastal turbines

Untreated machines lose alternators in 18 months within 500 m of the sea. The salt package costs about 10 % more and is the difference between a 20-year machine and a two-year one.

Store ice and water, not just electrons

Ice for the catch and fresh water for the crew are the two loads that tolerate interruption. Run the RO unit and the ice maker when the wind blows; the battery bank then only carries the resort base load.

Design the storm plan with the diesel

Keep a 30 kVA auto-start set for typhoon follow-ups and calm weeks. The hybrid controller starts it at 40 % state of charge — diesel becomes insurance, not supply.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a turbine last in salt air?

With the salt package — 316 stainless fasteners, double-sealed alternator, anodised housing and coated tower — the design life is the same 20 years as inland. Without it, expect alternator and bearing failures within two seasons.

How much wind do islands get?

Exposed coastal and channel sites commonly average 5–7 m/s at 18 m hub height, among the best small-wind resources anywhere. A three-month anemometer campaign confirms the number before the tower is ordered.

Can it run a desalination plant?

Yes — a 10 kW turbine carries a 1.8 kW RO unit producing 4–6 m³ of fresh water a day, either directly on a variable-frequency drive or through the battery bus.