Justin & Alex at Dragons Den 2011

The most notable aspect of the experience was paying almost $1.50/L for fuel. Pardon the pun, but it certainly drove home the point that Global Wind Group Inc. has been making for years, oil prices have reached levels which necessitate alternatives.

The pitching experience was challenging and very educational. The Dragon’s Den investors are particularly savvy and realize the impact that GWG’s technology is having on the market. The market for small wind and small solar is growing rapidly as the notion of decentralized energy generation gains traction. One of the “Dragons”, Bruce Croxon, has family roots in the Caribbean and was well aware of the pain experienced by his family members suffering from elevated energy prices.

Global Wind Group Inc. is are proud to announce the formation of our first subsidiary Sycamore Energy Ltd. Sycamore Energy Inc is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Global Wind Group Inc. with the value proposition to deliver the most cost-effective alternative energy solutions to our customers.

Customers who would benefit from the Sycamore Solution ™ are:

• Telecommunications tower operators
• Apartment building owners
• Shopping center owner/operators
• Schools
• Residences
• Resorts
• Government buildings

The Sycamore Energy team brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from within the telecommunication sector, specifically in the areas of infrastructure and power. Sycamore Energy Inc. continues to install renewable energy solutions properly balancing the number of wind turbines and solar panels to decrease energy costs. Using solar photovoltaic panels and wind turbines, Sycamore Energy delivers reliable renewable energy when you need it where you need it.

Solar energy is very reliable and predictable, and we use solar panels at nearly every installation. Wind power is obtained through the use of either HAWT (horizontal axis wind turbines) or VAWT (vertical axis wind turbines). Wind turbines deliver power at slightly less reliable frequencies, but over an entire year wind power is very cost effective.

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.