BWC 850 at the Wulf Test Field in the Tehachapi Pass circa 1998. Photo by Paul Gipe.

Wulf Test Field

The 24 acre (10 ha) site near Oak Creek Pass in the Tehachapi Mountains was bequeathed to Paul Gipe by Ed Wulf in the spring of 1997 for furthering the development of small wind turbines.

There are two test stands at the site, one for micro-wind turbines, the second for mini-wind turbines.

Update

December 2007

In December 2007 we removed the AirX s/n ABeta004 after it failed sometime in the fall. We replaced it with a Air Breeze s/n BR0001068 for testing at the request of SWP. The Whisper H40 on the second test stand was removed and scrapped in June 2006. At this time there is no turbine on the second test stand.

The site is adjacent to one of the world's largest concentrations of wind turbines and is very windy. The property also has a large erosion gully formed by a seep or spring. At the time the property was transferred the access road was bare and suffered from sheet and rill erosion during spring rains.

Since 1997, my wife, Nancy Nies, and I have installed several small wind turbines. We have also experimented with various erosion control practices and revegetation seed mixes to control erosion from the access road.

Paul Gipe and Nancy Nies raising an Air 303 using a NRG tilt-up tower and a Griphoist at the Wulf Test Field in the Tehachapi Pass.

We have tested several micro- and mini-wind turbines at the Wulf Field: BWC 850, Air 303H, Air 403, AirX (various versions), LVM 6F, Marlec 910F, Ampair 100, and Whisper H40. Results of noise and power curve tests can be found by following the links below. The results are also summarized in Wind Power: Renewable Energy for Home, Farm, and Business published in 2004. Tests on the Air series of wind turbines (Air 303, 403, and Air X) by other researches have confirmed the findings first reported here.--Paul Gipe

California poppies (Escholzia Californica).

• Wildflowers, Plants, and Revegetation Practices at the Wulf Test Field
• Wulf Test Field Site Description
• Wulf Test Field Panorama Views
• Testing the Power Curves of Small Wind Turbines
• Noise from Small Wind Turbines
• Dead Barn Owl Found at Wulf Test Field
• Small Wind Turbines and Birds
• Lowering the BWC 850 with a Griphoist by Paul Gipe

  Test Results

  • Small Wind Turbines Monitored at Wulf Test Field
  • Doug Selsam's Super Twin at Wulf Field
  • Field Tests on Air Breeze BR0001068
  • Air X ABeta004 Wulf Test Field Final Report
  • Whisper H40 Final Report
  • BWC 850 Measured Power Curve
  • Air 303H and Air 403 Measured Power Curves
  • Marlec 910F Measured Power Curve
  • LVM 6F Measured Power Curve
  • Ampair 100 Measured Power Curve
  • AirX Fails Power Curve Tests
  • AirX Noise Emission Measurements
  • Summary of Power Curves Measured at the Wulf Test Field