The Skystream 3.7™ was developed by South West Wind Power in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the U.S. and was first launched in the U.S. market in October 2006.

Using ground breaking technology, it was designed from the start for homeowners looking for a quiet, convenient, affordable way to protect themselves from ever increasing electricity costs and contribute to climate protection.

Key Design Attributes:

Skystream is the first small scale wind turbine designed as a fully integrated system where its power supply cable can be connected directly to the owners distribution board, simplifying the installation process.

Designed to look like a street lamp post, Skystream with its unique hooked blade shape has an attractive appearance, enabling it blend in effectively to rural and indeed many suburban sites.

Having only two moving parts, Skystream is of very robust design with minimal maintenance requirements over its 20 year service life.

How it works

With no storage batteries required, Skystream connects directly to the distribution board in your home or business. When the wind is blowing, your home is powered (in part) by Skystream. When it’s not, your home is seamlessly powered by the electricity grid as usual. This all happens automatically with no need for operator intervention.

During periods of strong winds, Skystream can actually produce excess electricity which overspills back to the grid. In storm conditions Skystream protects itself by automatically self regulating its rotor speed and will stop completely in violent storms, automatically restarting when the storm has subsided.

Introduction – Skystream 3.7

The first small wind generator designed specifically for utility-connected residential and commercial use, Skystream 3.7® from Southwest Windpower lets home owners and business owners harness wind energy and take control of their energy bills like never before.

Specifically for Grid-Connectivity

Skystream 3.7 is specifically designed for utility-connected home and business use. In certain states consumers can take advantage of “net-metering” or the sale of unused energy back to the power grid.

Low Cost

Skystream 3.7 costs approximately $12,000 to $18,000* to purchase and install, although costs vary significantly depending on your site. Depending on the tower and installation costs, wind speed average, rebates and local electricity costs, Skystream 3.7 can pay for itself in as quickly as 5 years.

All-in-One Solution

Skystream 3.7 offers a simple, all-in-one solution to harnessing wind energy on a residential scale. Different from all other technologies, Skystream 3.7 is the first all-inclusive wind generator with the controls and inverter built in.

Energy Production in Exceptionally Low Wind

Designed for very low winds, Skystream 3.7 begins producing power in an 8 mph (3.5 m/s) breeze with full output achieved at 20 mph (9m/s).

Low Profile

Skystream was designed to blend into the environment. When mounted on towers ranging from 33 - 60 ft (10.6 - 18.3 m), it has little impact on the surroundings. Towers up to 110 ft (33.5 m) are available. A site assessment is important to determine the best tower height for your site.

Exceptionally Quiet Operation

Skystream 3.7 is exceptionally quiet. In fact, Skystream’s sound is unrecognizable over trees blowing in the wind. The sound pressure level generated by Skystream is in the range of 40-50 decibels which is quieter than background noise in a home or office.

Award-Winning Technology

Skystream 3.7 was awarded a 2006 Best of What’s New award from the editors of Popular Science and was included in TIME magazine’s 2006 Best Inventions.

What is Skystream 3.7?

Skystream 3.7, developed by Southwest Windpower in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), is the newest generation in residential wind technology. Skystream 3.7 has a 1.9 kW rating and is the first fully integrated small wind generator specifically designed for the utility-connected market.

Skystream 3.7 is a down-wind (wind hits the blades on the downwind side of the tower) direct drive (gearless or no  transmission) permanent magnet wind generator. Skystream 3.7 uses an innovative 12 ft (3.7 m) rotor and producesapproximately 400 kWh per month in a 12 mph (5.4 m/s) wind.As of June 2008, over 2000 units have been sold.

What will it cost and how long will it take to pay for itself?

Skystream 3.7, installed, costs approximately $12,000 to $18,000, depending on tower height and installation expenses. Price includes the generator, operation controls and inverter. Skystream 3.7 is has tower height options available to accommodate a location’s wind resource. Skystream 3.7 is capable of producing energy at a fraction of the cost of other small wind, solar photovoltaics or reciprocating engine technology. Depending on the installed price, average wind speed, local cost of electricity and state rebates, Skystream 3.7 can pay for itself in as little as 5 years.

What makes this product unique?

Skystream 3.7 is the first all-inclusive wind generator with controls and inverter built-in. Skystream 3.7 was designed for very low winds, reaching rated power at just over 23 mph (10.3 m/s). In addition to the innovative technology, Southwest Windpower invested heavily in tooling to reduce component cost. Doing so makes it possible

to sell Skystream 3.7 at a very low price. Its full 1900 watts is achieved at 20 mph (9 m/s) with a maximum rotor speed of 325 rpm. Because of the exceptionally low rpm, the machine operates nearly sound free. Skystream 3.7 can be installed on a range of tower heights from 35 ft (10.2 m) to 110 ft (33.5 m). The optional 35 ft (10.2 m) freestanding (no guy wire) tower looks much like a standard light pole. A visually aesthetic shape played a key role in the design to show that a wind generator is not only a clean source of energy but pleasing to the eye.

Who can install this system?

Southwest Windpower recommends installing Skystream 3.7 at sites with the following criteria:

• Adequate wind resource: Minimum average wind speed for Skystream 3.7 is 10 mph (4.5 m/s). Ideal sites have 12 mph (5.4 m/s) average wind or greater.
• Site free from obstructions: Clean, unobstructed wind is best for Skystream 3.7. The top of the tower should be a minimum of 20 ft (6 m) above any surrounding object within a 300 ft (91.5 m) radius. Although the machine can be installed on smaller lots of land, properties of one acre or more are typically ideal as they will more likely have unobstructed wind.
• Suitable zoning: Tower installation must comply with local zoning regulations. It is also advisable to make sure
  there are no HOA (Home Owner Association) regulations that prohibit the use of towers.
• Interconnection with utility: Local utility must allow for interconnection. The 1979 federal PURPA act requires
  small systems can connect to the electrical grid; but homeowners should consult their local utility.
• Electricity cost of $0.10/kWh or greater: Consumers should consult with their local utility or look at their

electric bill.

Where can this system be purchased?

Skystream 3.7 is distributed through Southwest Windpower’s factory-trained dealer network. Please visit our dealers page for details .