Company Background History

FORTIS, founded in February 1997, is based on the 25 years experience in Renewable Energy, especially in small wind turbines. Fortis Wind Energy is the predecessor of LMW, which was founded at the end of the seventies.

LMW developed and produced small wind turbines for houses without connection to the utility grid or houseboats in the Netherlands and a few European countries. From 1981 onward a large number of people from African and Asian countries became increasingly interested in the small battery charging wind turbine, particularly those people working in West European countries whose families were living in North Africa and Asia. During these years LMW acquired a considerable amount of experience for the erection and maintenance of the wind turbine in developing countries. As service and assistance with installing was practically impossible, an easy to install, maintenance-free wind turbine was essential. With a maintenance free Permanent Magnet brush less generator, reinforced polyester or epoxy rotor blades, voltage control and the hinged tail safety system, the Fortis wind turbines are products, which can be transported and installed with ease.

In 1985 the LMW 2500 and LMW 3600 wind turbine where developed with a rotor diameter of 5,0 m, suitable for battery charging and water pumping. In 1997/1998 redesign as the "Montana" with Ne-Fe-Br magnets in the generator and with a rated output of more than 5000 Watt. Fortis has a unique knowledge and 20 years experience of permanent magnet generators for small direct drive wind turbines. In 2002 Fortis started an optimization project with a well know European University.

From 1990 onward, Fortis developed systems for the small wind turbines systems as:

wind/PV solar stand alone system for battery charging
wind battery-charging system with diesel generator backup
small wind turbines suitable for grid connections by means of an inverter
wind electric pumping systems (WEPS) with DC motor driven pumps and AC motor driven pumps.
wind turbines suitable for heating.

Fortis wind turbines - a low cost solution

Fortis reduced the prices of the small wind turbines drastic. This has been able through the use of new production technologies and larger volumes in sale. The prices of small wind turbines produced by well know suppliers of small wind turbines are far too high. Projects for developing countries depend fully on AID funds like UNDP and World Bank. Only when the small wind turbines are available against a price, which makes them economic for developing countries, small wind turbines are competitive against diesel generators and other Renewable Energy sources. Fortis developed a range of small wind turbines with a very high performance and high reliability with a price of about US$ 1.500, - per kW rated output including voltage controller. Fortis wind turbine systems are very attractive for developing countries for rural electrification, water pumping and other applications, because through its low prices and through the possibility of local production.