St. Paul International Airport, St. Paul, Minnesota

Alternative Energy Solutions: Wind-Turbine Generator Installation

DYNALECTRIC LA VALUE DELIVERED

Use of a plentiful local energy resource to lower energy costs; efficient single-source wind energy system installation without damaging the roof of the existing facility, or negatively impacting flight operations and radar systems; minimal noise and vibration pollution; sleek, modern aerodynamic design; convenient serviceability features.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY OBJECTIVES

To provide renewable energy solutions for cutting energy costs by harnessing a plentiful local energy source.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOLUTIONS

To achieve this client’s alternative energy objectives, Dynalectric provided a leading-edge rooftop wind turbine system that transforms the region’s windy weather conditions into a sustainable energy source.

The wind energy system consists of eight turbines, wiring and an inverter that converts the turbines’ direct current power for use by the building’s alternating current electrical system. The company connected the turbines six feet apart from base to base on a structure that was custom-built by the airport’s general contractor. Located along the terminal building’s parapet and facing in the dominant wind direction, the devices take maximum advantage of the fact that wind currents increase in speed as they travel up the side of a building. Consequently, currents at the building’s parapet can be as much as 30 percent stronger than elsewhere on the roof.

After attaching the turbines along the parapet, the company wired them into the facility’s electrical system to provide up to 1,000 watts of wind-generated energy per hour, depending on wind speeds.

Other Information: One of the country’s leading providers of next-generation wind turbine systems, Dynalectric Los Angeles has completed wind turbine projects from Hawaii to Pennsylvania, from Minnesota to Texas. These wind energy systems offer a number of advantages. Since the turbines, which are approximately four-by-six feet, don’t need the tall support towers often associated with conventional wind turbines, they operate more quietly and with less vibration. This makes them an ideal choice for use in urban and suburban locations. In addition, since the installation doesn’t penetrate the roof, there’s no danger of leaks or other damage. The result is a scalable, modular solution for reliable, sustainable energy.

TRANSPORTATION FACILITY BACKGROUND

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) meets the needs of Minneapolis, St. Paul and the suburban cities of Bloomington, Eagan, Mendota Heights and Richfield. In 2008, MSP’s one airfield with four runways and two terminal buildings - the Lindbergh Terminal and the Humphrey Terminal – served 34 million passengers and accommodated 450,044 landings and takeoffs. The 12th busiest airfield in the United States, it ranks 16th in North America for the number of travelers served. In 2009, Airports Council International - North America named MSP the “Best Large Airport in North America,” based on its Airport Service Quality traveler survey. In addition, Airport Revenue News, the industry leader in airport concession news, awarded MSP its 2009 Frequent Traveler Award as “Airport with the Best Retail Stores.”