Southwest Calculator

We created the Southwest Calculator for the Arizona-based wind turbine manufacturer Southwest Windpower Inc. It is a tool to help their distributors estimate the output of each wind turbine in their product line, given a few very simple inputs. It uses a simple step-by-step approach to guide the user though the process of selecting and pricing out a wind turbine system.

The user enters some simple information such as annual average wind speed, the surrounding terrain type, the desired system voltage, and the necessary wire run distance.

Next, the calculator displays the entire line of Southwest Wind turbines, complete with the cost and estimated average energy production of each. The Details buttons provide further information about the different wind turbine models, and the distributor can customize pricing.

Once the user selects a wind turbine, the calculator presents a list of tower options and accessories available for that wind turbine. If the user selects a different tower height, the calculator updates the estimated power ouput accordingly.

The calculator recommends the optimal wire size to avoid excessive energy loss and voltage drop, and produces a report listing the requested part numbers and prices. Each time Southwest Windpower updates their product line or suggested pricing, the product data is automatically transmitted via XML to its distributors.