Centreville Manufacturing is building an initial 10 GSW-7000 towable power generators that use only the sun and wind power to produce electricity. Sixteen solar panels combine to produce 4,600 watts of power. The panels are mounted on hydraulic arms that deploy into a span of 50 feet wide and rotate to follow the sun automatically.
The 2,500-watt wind generator sits on top of a telescoping tower that raises more than 105 feet to capture available wind. A large bank of storage batteries receive and store the power that is routed through an on-board inverter to produce clean AC power for a variety of potential uses. The batteries have a built-in 48-hour reserve capability for times when sunlight or wind conditions are low.
The product was recently presented at an open house April 6 at the Centreville factory, attended by officials from the federal government, the Maryland State Energy Commission, military representatives, county officials and delegations from several counties that are interested in providing power in extremely remote areas hundreds of miles from roads or power antennas. Cameras were placed on top of the antenna to show how the units can be configured as complete stand-alone systems. Targeted users include cellular communications, Homeland Security, disaster relief and a variety of military applications.
Centreville Manufacturing CEO John Doran told RER he sees potential for the generators as a rental item in remote areas of states such as Wyoming, Texas or the plains states as well as along the border and in Canada.
Doran said the trailer can be set up within an hour including the extended outrigger system. The tower hydraulically raises into a vertical position, then extends up to the 100-foot height via hydraulic winch and cables. The unit can be controlled remotely by an i-Pad or laptop computer from anywhere by an onboard cellular connection. When the trailer is in the towing configuration, it is designed to fit inside a 40-foot ISO shipping container.
Centreville Manufacturing is based in Centreville, Md. The trailer is built and offered for sale in conjunction with Green Trail Energy, based in Mountain View, Calif.
