To ‘tame’ the wind force, to place it at the service of people – the aim of the project implemented by Turkmen scientists – the specialists of the Sun Scientific Production Association of the Supreme Council for Science and Technology under President of Turkmenistan. They designed an operative embodiment of a device for converting wind energy – one of the alternative energy sources – a wind power unit with the capacity of 5 kWt. The unit will supply power to the school on the Gyzylsu Island in the Caspian Sea.

To develop innovative, ecologically friendly technologies, in particular the renewable technologies, is a current task set to Turkmen science. Especially as for that there are the vast opportunities in Turkmenistan – the natural and climatic conditions. To make good use of these conditions is an ultimate goal the Sun Scientific Production Association, which was founded in accordance with the Resolution of President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov in 2007, to achieve. It is one of the few largest organisations throughout the CIS carrying out the research in the use of renewable energy sources. At present the Sun Association implements the large-scale projects on development and testing of the pilot units such as solar drying device, helio water desalination unit, wind-solar unit supplying power and water and others.

The significance of these projects is obvious. Though Turkmenistan produces the sufficient amount of electrical power there are the regions which are hard to reach to lay power transmission lines. The ecologically friendly units designed by the Turkmen scientists will supply energy to the distant pastures, oil and gas fields and islands in the Caspian Sea.

The Sun Scientific Production Association implements the project of a wind power unit with the capacity of 5 kWt under the agreement with the Turkmenbashi oil refineries. The design and testing programme have been completed, the key element – the generator passed the development test and the hardware was checked out and tested. The validation suite carried out on the polygon in the Bekrava settlement gave positive results that were certified by the special commission consisting of the specialists of the Ministry of Energy and Industry of Turkmenistan and the Sun Scientific Production Association. The unit will be adapted to the climatic conditions of the Caspian region, transported and assembled in situ.

The Sun Association won the contest announced by the Supreme Council for Science and Technology under President of Turkmenistan for the best wind energy project, the best pilot technology and operative embodiments of wind power units under the conditions of the arid zones.

Based on the accumulated experience and scientific advances the Turkmen scientists continue the research in renewable technologies. That was the focus of the first internet forum organized recently by the Supreme Council for Science and Technology under President of Turkmenistan in the framework of co-operation with the scientists and experts in Germany – a leader in using wind energy technologies.