Distributed Energy Systems has received an order for its advanced Northwind 100 gearless wind turbines from Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, the fourth largest utility company in Canada.

Three Northwind 100 turbines will be installed in Ramea, a small remote island on the south coast of Newfoundland and one of 22 isolated communities served by Hydro. Ramea is the site of a five-year innovative research and development project for an isolated wind-hydrogen-diesel generation system, one of the first of its kind in the world. This project is focused on developing an environmentally-friendly energy solution to be used in small, isolated electrical distribution systems. The project builds on the existing, successful wind-diesel system that has been operating in Ramea since 2004.

With 100kW of rated power, the Northwind 100 was originally designed for use in remote winddiesel applications, and more recently has been released as an alternative power generator for grid-connected customers such as small businesses, commercial farms, small communities, schools and universities, and small corporate and industrial sites. The permanent magnet direct-drive (PMDD) turbine delivers best-in-class reliability and high energy capture to the mainstream wind energy marketplace.