Leaving Winnipeg with our Vertical Axis Wind Turbine strapped to the back of the truck, we looked at ourselves and wondered how we got on this road. Don’t get me wrong, we know how to find the trans-Canada highway east out of Winnipeg. What I mean is; we wondered how we ended up agreeing to pitch in front of five self-made millionaires and convince them to invest in Global Wind Group Inc.

So there we were leaving Winnipeg with gas prices at record levels hauling a load that is the EXACT opposite of aerodynamic. I so desperately wished we were driving an electric truck and could let the turbine free-spin. We traveled the longer route through Canada since we could only imagine the conversation with the border guard. If you’ve ever done the drive across the northern shore of Lake Superior you’ll know what I’m talking about when I describe it as beautiful desolation. We quickly learned that gas stations are an oasis in an endless desert of trees.

The response we got from people across Northern Ontario were split 50-50 between, “Oh boy, you are going to be on T.V.!”, and “Please give me your card, we are desperate to get away from diesel electricity”. Both were nice to hear, but never took the sting off the $130 fill-ups.

First off, anyone who tells you they’ve got the magic bullet for renewable energy is either shilling a product, or delusional. The future of energy will be, as it is today, a mixture of policy and technology specific to the needs of the consumer. For the purposes of this post, I’d like to highlight one element of the energy future, micro-energy which is a form of distributed energy generation.

Distributed energy generation is touted as part of the futuristic sounding ‘smart-grid’. A future where traditional energy generation is supplemented with energy created close to the point of consumption, and individual machines and appliances communicate with each other and the grid in an effort to minimize consumer costs. It’s interesting to think that soon your dishwasher could refuse to operate because the grid has determined that it’s nearing capacity and is managing demand to avoid a disruption. Want to run that dishwasher regardless? Well then it’s time to invest in your own micro energy.

The ZüS™ Power Challenge

The ZüS™ Power Challenge is an opportunity for Global Wind Group with the aid of our dealer network and their customer worldwide to demonstrate how the energy produced from a 1 kW ZüS™ Modular Power System is being utilized. In 2012 entrants from all over the world will be able to participate in the ZüS™ Power Challenge for a chance at winning a cash prize.

Current Entrants

Red River Exhibition Park, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada

This project is demonstrating if there is sufficient power to power life in an 8’x16’ cabin in the middle of an extreme Winnipeg winter. The challenge will be carried out over the course of two weeks and involves a staff member to live in the cabin throughout this time.

Components in the cabin will include a computer with internet access, a television, fridge, microwave and an exercise machine. All of these devices will run off the power generated from the turbine. There will be no connection to an outside power source even for the purposes of heating. The challenge will take place during the month of March 2011 and is the first of an annual challenge that will take place between all users of the ZüS™ Modular Power System.

Global Wind Group Inc. (GWG) has hit the ground running in 2011, which is shaping up to be our biggest and most productive year thus far. We have been growing inside and out with new staff, joint ventures, and new and improved products.

In July, we welcomed John Fjeldsted as our new CEO. John brings with him a wealth of experience stemming from his 30+ year career with Manitoba Hydro, and his work as Executive Director of the Manitoba Environmental Industries Association. GWG has been very pleased with the work John has done to further our company and strengthen ties with the Manitoba government over the last six months.

Following our win in the first annual Green Dragons Lair with the Manitoba Environmental Industries Association in October GWG was recognized as one of Canada’s hottest innovative companies in 2010 by The Canadian Innovation Exchange in Toronto, Ontario.

In 2010 ZüS™ Modular Power System has gone through some modifications to make it more efficient and cost effective. As our engineering team continued to work diligently on new products, the NaNo ZüS™ was born. The biggest advantage of the NaNo ZüS™ is its compact size. At 3ft (1M) high, 3ft (1M) wide, and only 60lbs (27kG), the Nano ZüS™ can be installed virtually anywhere. You will see the NaNo ZüS™ on the market in the summer of 2011.

Global Wind Group Inc. is proud to announce that we have been selected as a finalist for the 2010 Spirit of Winnipeg Awards, sponsored by the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and BDO. Please visit the link below to view the press announcement and other finalist for each category.

http://www.winnipeg-chamber.com/Initiatives/spiritofwinnipeg.aspx