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African Wind Power

When we first started our search for a wind turbine, the African Wind Power (AWP) 3.6 was at the top of the list. However, as we began to inquire about them we quickly found there were no more AWP turbines for purchase in the U.S.

There was one encouraging rumor circulating in the wind energy community The whispers said that Abundant Renewable Energy, the distributor for the African Wind Power products, was planning to redesign the AWP 3.6 and release a Made in the USA machine. This eventually became the case in the form of the ARE 110, now the XZERES 110.

In the meantime African Wind Power fell of the radar of most people and it was assumed that they had met their demise. Interestingly this was not to be the case. AWP is still in business. They are making a turbine that looks like the old AWP 3.6 but has very different specs. To this date, they do not have a distributor or marketing presence in the U.S.

        AWP 3.7

African Wind Power is currently producing the AWP 3.7 (3.7 referring to the rotor diameter in meters). They are located in Johannesburg, South Africa. There was always a cloud of poor quality assurance following the AWP 3.6 but they were good energy producers. Even with the problems, many comments you find about them are still relatively positive. Some owners seem content to make the necessary repairs and upgrades to keep their machine in operation. The AWP 3.7 model is simply described as an improved 3.6. We would hope that improved means better construction. 

The information presented by the company is a bit unremarkable and rather sketchy in some areas. An example can be found in the turbine specs. There is available the typical construction and dimensional aspects for the 3.7 but the energy output charts being referenced are for the AWP 3.6.

While the 3.7 turbine is similar in looks to the 3.6, there are notable differences in some of the numbers. The 3.6 had a lower published rpm of 350. The 3.7 lists 500 rpm. The 3.6 weighted in at 250 pounds while a diet took the new model down to 220 pounds.

Turbines with rotor diameters of 2.4, 5.4 and 7.2 meters are under development also. We will post updated information on Power-Talk.net if they actually become available.

There are several other item listed as improvements.

  Turbines with rotor diameters of 2.4, 5.4 and 7.2 meters are under development also. We will post updated information as it becomes available.