Consigned to Oblivion - Wind Power for the World: The Rise of Modern Wind Energy - page 359

Figure 16.3 Small 2 kW wind turbine prototype for telecommunication

in the ice fields of Greenland (left); Testing of the small wind
turbine for Greenland (right).

This form of transport of gas is so expensive, that it was viable
to pay a very high price for a small wind turbine to supply most of
the energy to the transmitter stations so that a container of propane
would last for three years instead of one year and thus save two
costly helicopter transports of gas. However, the wind turbine had
to able to survive a temperature of minus 60 C and winds of 90 m/s.
This is uniquely tough weather conditions.
In the beginning French Aerowatt turbines were used, but
around 1984 a Danish development project was initiated in which
Transmotor furnished the generators and the Folkecenter developed
wooden blades.
The blades were tried out in three types of wood (laminated
spruce, laminated ash tree, special Kerto plywood) and three kinds
of surface treatment in order to harvest experience on what would
work best in Greenland conditions. The result was blades that
were more solid and far cheaper than the French ones—another
important aspect concerning wind turbines blades in Greenland's
icy mountains.
In special weather conditions ice builds up on the tower behind
the rotor caused by condensation of ice crystals. When it happens,
the rotor blades are chopped in two pieces and must be replaced
by new ones. So, the costs mattered as new blades were constantly
needed.