A wind generator, which is installed on top of a tall tower, collects kinetic energy from the wind and converts it to electricity that is compatible with a home's electrical system.
Wind generators are a clean and efficient method of turning raw kinetic wind power into electric power. Wind generators can be connected directly to machinery for mechanical energy or they can be connected to power generators and can create electricity. These three bladed structures, mounted on high poles or towers, are typically pointed into the wind using computers and sensors. The wind generator itself is made up of a rotor mounted to a wind generator generator which is mounted to a frame and then a tail is mounted on the opposing side of the rotor. If the wind generator does not have a sensor based system pushing it into the wind, the tail will adjust it manually.
Higher towers and broader rotors will generate more energy overall, so if you are considering the investment, understand that it is long term outlay and that the relatively low additional cost for a higher tower or larger rotor on your wind generator will help offset the overall cost more quickly. As you consider your investment in a wind generator generator, consider a hybrid power system using solar electric panels as well. Depending on where you live the seasonality of wind speed and the amount of sunshine produced in the warm summer months, you may find that you'll reap more benefits from using all of your natural resources to power your home rather than just one or the other.
In a normal residential application, a home is served simultaneously by the wind generator and a local utility. If the wind speeds are below cut-in speed, there will be no output from the turbine and all of the needed power is purchased from the utility. As wind speeds increase, turbine output increases and the amount of power purchased from the utility is proportionately decreased. When the turbine produces more power than the house needs, the extra electricity is sold to the utility. All of this is done automatically. There are no batteries in a modern residential wind system.
The wind generator typically lowers your electricity bill by 50 to 90 percent. It is not uncommon for wind generator owners with total-electric homes to have monthly utility bills of only $8 to $15 for nine months of the year. If less air conditioning is used the bills can be very low year-round. The amount of money a small wind generator saves you in the long run will depend upon its cost, the amount of electricity you use, the average wind speed at your site, and other factors.
A residential wind generator can be a relatively large device and is not suitable for urban or small-lot suburban homes. Except for very small wind generators (i.e., with rotors one meter or less in diameter) on very small towers, a property size of one acre or more is desirable.
The economics of a wind system are very sensitive to the average wind speed in the area, and to a lesser extent, the cost of purchasing electricity. As a general rule of thumb, if economics are a concern, a turbine owner should have at least a 10 mph average wind speed and be paying at least 10 cents/kWh for electricity.
Wind generators produce no pollution and by using wind power you will be offsetting pollution that would have been generated by your utility company. Over its life, a small residential wind generator can offset approximately 1.2 tons of air pollutants and 200 tons of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and other gases which cause climate change).
For most residential systems the cost of taking wind measurements is not justified. Wind resource data published by the U.S. Department of Energy is sufficient for an experienced evaluator to predict wind generator performance. In very hilly or mountainous areas, however, it may be best to collect wind data before purchasing a system to ensure that your site is not in a sheltered area.
Small wind generators do make some noise, but not enough to be found objectionable by most people. A typical residential wind system makes less noise than the average washing machine. Wind generators do not interfere with TV reception.
Federal regulations (specifically, the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, or PURPA) require utilities to connect with and purchase power from small (less than 80 MW) wind energy systems. A wind generator manufacturer should be able to help arrange the required utility company approvals.
No. A wind generator is easily retrofitted to virtually any home without the need to change any wiring or appliances. In most cases, the utility will install a second utility meter to measure how much surplus electricity it is purchasing from the turbine owner.
Towers are necessary to raise the wind generator above turbulence generated by obstacles on the ground and trees. Wind velocity and, therefore wind generator performance, increases with altitude. Several different types of towers are available, depending upon which you select. Each type has its advantages; the most economical type of tower is the guyed lattice tower, but a hinged tower can be easier for you to install yourself and provides easier access for maintenance.
Most small turbines have very few moving parts and do not require any regular maintenance. They are designed for a long life (up to 20 years) and operate completely automatically.