DOWNLOAD PDF WIND POWER FOR HOME BUSINESS

Transcription

1 Chapter 1 : 20kW Wind Turbines Home & Business Power Full Electrical Services. While we are known primarily as a solar installation company, as a division of SME Inc. of Seattle, NW Wind & Solar also offers our customers electrical services. Wind farms generate no emissions and use no fuel. The only drawback to starting a local wind farm is the possibility of invasive noise from turbine blades. Wind farm companies can take advantage of grant funding and specialized investment, as well as the ability to serve a variety of customer-types and take advantage of government subsidies and tax incentives for customers. Register your business according to state law. Registration requirements vary See Resources. Obtain financing for your business. Seek traditional financing, such as bank loans, credit lines, personal loans and savings. In addition to traditional avenues, pursue grant funding from private and government sources. Grant money for businesses is not as prolific as some people think; green energy, however, is one industry in which startups can be eligible for a wide range of grant awards. Some angel investors specialize in environmentally sustainable technology as well, opening up another funding avenue for solar farms. Since your farm will likely require a sizable investment in valuable technology, insuring your assets against theft, vandalism or other damage can help you to avoid large expenses in the future. Liability insurance can also help to protect your company in the event that anyone gets hurt on your farm; even if they are trespassing you could find yourself liable for injuries. Set up your wind farm. Speak with local government officials, businesspeople and citizens before selecting a location for your farm. As mentioned, large wind farms can generate a good amount of noise. Setting up a wind farm in a location that will annoy or offend the community can put your farm on the path to failure from the outset. Use contract labor, possibly loaned from other renewable energy companies, to assemble your wind turbines and connect them to your generators. Make sure your farm is generating electricity reliably before marketing your services. Market your services to homes, businesses, the local government and local utility companies. Offer onsite installation services for home and business wind turbines. Offer large volume energy contracts to local government authorities and utilities to secure long-term relationships with the organizations that need your services the most. If your farm is located in an area equipped with a smart grid, you may be able to begin earning revenue in the form of credit payments through your electric utility account from day one. Tip Set up tours of your wind farm facilities for local schools, scout troops, church youth groups and other organizations to boost your reputation in the community. Page 1

2 Chapter 2 : Wind Energy Basics Wind Power for Home and Business has become a staple for both homeowners and professionals interested in the subject, and now, with energy prices soaring, interest in wind power is hitting an all-time high. Yes, in My Backyard! Considering residential wind power for energy self-sufficiency? Find out whether a home wind turbine is right for you. Phelps If you live in a residential neighborhood, be certain code restrictions do not prohibit turbines. Photo By Paul Gipe In remote areas, installing an off-grid turbine can be less expensive than extending a new power line. Photo Courtesy Southwest Wind Power Open water often means strong winds, one characteristic of a good turbine site. Photo By Terry Wild Rather than electricity, this Win-Pressor turbine produces compressed air that powers tools on this Pennsylvania farm. After all, who really enjoys paying a utility bill? Small wind energy is renewable, non-polluting, and, in the right circumstances, can save you money. But is home wind power a good choice for you? The answer may surprise you, because living in a windy area is not necessarily the most important factor. On the other hand, if you want to go off-grid and produce your own electricity, you almost certainly want to consider installing a home wind turbine, even if your location is not notably windy. For a home wind turbine to be worth your investment, you really need to live on an acre or more. The Mathers live in an off-grid home powered by solar panels and their micro wind turbine, a 1-kilowatt kw Bergey Excel 1. Renewable energy experts often recommend installing hybrid wind and solar energy systems for off-grid living. These systems work well because wind and solar energy tend to be most available at different times. With wind, you wake up and you have more power. Grid-Connected Home Wind Power If your main goal is energy self-sufficiency, you may want to be off the grid. With this setup, anytime your wind turbine produces more power than your home needs, that power goes onto the local utility grid. Grid-connected systems are often cheaper, because without the responsibility of producing all of your own electricity, you can install a smaller, less expensive system. You can also opt to skip the battery pack and backup generator. Finally, if you consistently generate more electricity than you need, you may actually get cash back from the utility. About 10 years ago, Ivanko and Kivirist installed their kilowatt Bergey Excel turbine on a foot tower seea photo in the Image Gallery. The couple invested in home energy efficiency before they started installing renewable energy, however, and with an efficient home, they now generate more electricity than they need. Exactly how this relationship with the utility works depends on state regulations. Wisconsin, like most states 43 at last count, has net metering regulations that help make grid connection a good deal for homeowners. Essentially, when you use electricity from the utility, your meter runs forward, and when you put excess electricity onto the grid, it runs backward. They were able to save some money by installing the turbine themselves, and they do all of their own maintenance. And keep in mind that theirs is a small system. Even with a solid average wind speed of 9 mph, the estimated annual output is about 1, kwh. For a system large enough to provide all of your own energy â nearly kwh per month for the average U. For example, they reduced their labor costs by teaming up with wind energy educators to host a workshop on their property. To begin with, if you live in a truly remote area and want to go off-grid, installing renewable energy systems will often be less expensive than paying the utility company to extend a power line to your property. In fact, some states require that the utility provide information on renewable energy alternatives whenever a customer requests a power line extension. The American Wind Energy Association gives a wide range of expected payback periods for a home wind turbine â between 6 and 30 years. Your savings will depend on a lot of individual factors. One of the easiest factors to calculate is individual renewable energy incentives. In the United States, small wind turbines currently qualify for a federal tax credit of 30 percent, which is scheduled to continue through Other financial incentives may be available through your state or through individual utilities. The best place for current information on U. Another key factor in calculating how quickly your wind turbine will pay for itself is knowing how gusty your property actually is. You can find out rough information about wind conditions where you live by checking wind resource maps, such as those available from Wind Powering America, or by asking a nearby airport for data on average wind speeds. In some wind-rich regions, you may also be able to Page 2

3 find independent site assessors at a reasonable cost. The Midwest Renewable Energy Association, for example, maintains a list of site assessors. Paul Gipe, author of Wind Power: Renewable Energy for Home, Farm and Business, has been researching and writing about wind turbines since the mids. First, yes, you really do need that tall tower, because average wind speeds increase substantially with height. This comes up all the time, because a big part of the expense of the turbine is the tower, and people are looking for ways to save a little money. Look for established manufacturers with a proven track record and certified test results that show how much electricity you will be able to produce. As of this writing, three turbines are certified â Bergey Windpower Co. Ivanko and Kivirist have a few additional words of wisdom: However, they also insured their wind turbine against damages, and were grateful they had done so when the blades cracked during a severe storm last year. With climate change, extreme weather events are becoming more and more common, the couple warns, so good insurance is more necessary than ever. Ivanko and Kivirist were thrilled that Bergey chose to stand behind its blades and replace them free of charge, even though the blades were no longer under warranty. For this reason, the couple also encourages buying from established manufacturers to be sure turbines are certified and warranty policies are reliable. And some final words from Cam and Michelle Mather: But they made it work, and say they have found many benefits to this hands-on approach. In a big windstorm, I can stand there and look at it all day. What are your alternatives? While you may be most familiar with small wind for your home or industrial wind for utilities, a growing number of in-between, community-based projects are emerging. In particular, wind turbines often work well for schools, where, among their other benefits, they can be used as a teaching tool. Home Wind Power Resources. Page 3

4 Chapter 3 : Wind Power for Texas Home or Business - Turbine - Windmill Altogether, while installing a small wind turbine in a city or suburb is certainly possible, you're much more likely to have the right conditions for home wind power if you live well outside. Is Wind Energy Practical? Personal impressions of the windiness of a site are often not accurate; it is better to use an objective method. The most useful information will be obtained from placing an anemometer a device which measures wind speed on your site for at least one year. Some states have anemometer loan programs. You can also find wind data from state wind resource maps and state anemometer loan programs. Winds on your site should be at least class 2 annual wind speeds averaging 9. These should be average sustained wind speed, not strong gusts interspersed with calm. Department of Energy has more information on siting turbines, and the American Wind Energy Association has a siting handbook. You will have to make sure your local zoning codes or covenants allow wind turbines and the fairly tall towers that make them work. Wind turbines are growing and evolving rapidly, so you need to do enough research to learn whether a turbine will pay for itself quickly enough to meet your financial requirements. Small wind systems designed for individuals, businesses, and farm or ranch operators are growing dramatically. The industry group American Wind Energy Association predicts a thirty-fold increase in the United States in the next five years. How does it work? Photo courtesy of Sue Hawkins. A wind turbine works by catching the energy in the wind, using it to turn blades, and converting the energy to electricity through a generator in the part of the turbine called a nacelle. The turbine is only one part of the system, however. A tower will put the blades high in the air where the wind is better. In addition, the presence of ground clutter greatly reduces the wind resource and increases wind turbulence. One rule of thumb is that the bottom of the blade-swept area should be a minimum of 30 feet above any trees or buildings within to feet. For systems with batteries, a controller manages the electrical input to the batteries or the inverter. In an off-grid system, or an on-grid system with battery backup, batteries will store the power. An inverter will convert direct current DC electricity to alternating current AC. They relied on their own ability to make power with a wind turbine, perhaps solar panels, and backup batteries to store power. Many states have now passed net-metering laws which allow consumers to sell back electricity to the utility company, making it more economical for even grid-tied consumers people who already receive electricity from a utility to offset their electricity bill by generating wind. How big a system do I need? Most small wind turbines have a rating or size based on the maximum electricity they can generate such as 1. But that is not a very useful number for most consumers. This is because rated output is the peak production at a specific and usually high wind speed, and different manufacturers use different wind speeds to determine rated output. It is better to use turbine power curves to estimate output. Any reputable small wind turbine representative will supply you a power curve, showing how much electricity the machine produces at a given wind speed. Use this to estimate how much energy kwh the turbine will produce each month or year at the average wind speed you expect or measure at your site. Match this output with your annual energy consumption. To determine this number, check your monthly bills to come up with the annual total of kilowatt hours of electricity you use. Once you have determined your annual electricity use, you can decide how much electricity you want to offset with a turbine, based on budget and other considerations. For example, if you want to offset nearly all your electricity use and have determined you have annual usage of 10, kilowatt hours, select a turbine that will produce that much power over the course of year at your average wind speed. Generally speaking, it is not a good idea to get a bigger turbine than you need unless you have some type of agreement with your utility to buy the excess power at a premium. How much will it cost? Residential wind turbines vary depending on how much power they can produce and other factors. How do I calculate a payback? Determine the amount you paid on electricity bills before you installed your system. If your system offsets all your electricity, once you know its cost, you can divide that by the annual bill and determine how many years it will take to pay off. If you are only offsetting part of your use, you will need to adjust the calculation accordingly. Windustry has a wind energy payback period worksheet that goes into more detail, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory has a calculator and a paper on the economics of grid-tied small wind. No matter what kind of Page 4

5 electricity you are using, the best way to make it cheaper is to use less. That means both making your home more efficient and also finding ways to cut your use, such as opening your windows on cool nights and closing them as the day heats up. Turning off lights and unplugging appliances when not in use can also really add up. There has never been a better time to buy a small wind turbine in terms of incentives. The federal Investment Tax Credit now offers 30 percent of the total cost of an installed system, the first time small wind has had such a generous federal incentive. Some local utilities may also have rebate programs. In addition, some equipment may be depreciated for tax purposes. What zoning issues might I run into? Zoning regulations vary dramatically across states, counties, and municipalities. Check with your local planning and zoning office before proceeding. In many communities, height restrictions may rule out a wind tower. Other factors regulated by local zoning may include setbacks, noise, tower placement, and type of tower structure. A zoning permit for a wind turbine may require a public hearing in order to issue a permit. It is a good idea to discuss possible wind turbine installations with your neighbors to prevent the surprise of a public hearing notice. What kind of maintenance is there? Maintenance varies by system, so ask when you are considering which to buy and when you are reviewing literature from different manufacturers. Many small wind turbines require periodic maintenance, which generally consists of laying the system on the ground and giving the parts of the generator a tuneup. Representatives of manufacturers can give you an idea of the expected maintenance schedule and help you arrange maintenance. How long will the system last? When you are considering buying a system, ask about its anticipated lifespan. Most reputable small turbines should perform well for many years with only periodic maintenance required. Buy a turbine that has a very good track record and a good warranty â at least five years is preferable. In general, you can expect 20 years from a properly maintained turbine from a reputable manufacturer. Where can I go to research more about specific components of my system? Resources provided at the end of this piece will help get you started. Where can I find an installer? Installation is generally arranged by representatives of the manufacturer. Several have a very precise way of handling installation, including determining the best place on your property to place the turbine and catch the best wind. Do I have to think about insurance? You will want to insure your turbine against possible damage and liability claims; some counties require insurance. Ask your property insurance company whether they will insure the turbine. A small wind turbine, like other capital investments, should increase the value of your property. If you can tell a prospective buyer that your electricity bills are almost nothing, the value of the installed turbine may be an attractive incentive. What is the impact on the environment? Small wind turbines emit no pollution and need no water. They also reduce the amount of pollutants that your utility would emit if you were relying instead on electricity from burning coal, for example. According to the American Wind Energy Association, over its life, a small residential wind turbine can offset approximately 1. Although the impact of wind turbines on wildlife, especially birds, is of concern to many people, research has shown that bird impacts with small, unlighted turbines are quite rare. House windows and outdoor cats have a much greater negative impact. Most modern residential turbines are quite quiet â similar to ambient noise levels under average wind conditions. If you can, try to visit a turbine on a windy day in order to experience the noise levels for yourself. What other renewable energy resources should I think about? Before considering adding any renewable energy to your home, ranch, or farm, experts advise you to do everything reasonable to reduce the energy you are using through conservation and efficiency. After that, adding renewables depends on your location and budget. Solar photovoltaic panels may make more sense than small wind turbines in most urban areas. A combination of the two, perhaps with a diesel generator backup, often makes sense for people who want to live completely independent of the power company. A ground-source geothermal heat pump, which takes advantage of the relatively uniform temperature of the earth, makes sense for many people, especially in new construction. And if you have water running downhill on your property, a micro-hydro generator might be a good option to consider. Page 5

6 Chapter 4 : Renewable Energy & Efficiency Technologies Home Power Magazine A kilowatt wind turbine will meet the needs of a home requiring kilowatt-hours per month in a location with a 14 mile-per-hour ( meters-per-second) annual average wind speed. To help you determine what size turbine you'll need, first establish an energy budget. So when does a small wind turbine make sense? What is a small wind turbine? For larger wind turbines the manufacturers are usually a little more honest, and more money is available to do a good site analysis. The information in this article is generic: Solar Truth is that unless you live in a very windy place, you will be better off putting your money into solar PV. It is hard to beat the advantages of solar: Warranties of 25 years are common for PV modules. No maintenance, other than the occasional hosing-off if you live in a dusty place. At the time of this writing, half that money will buy you about 7 kw of installed solar panels. In our not-so-sunny Ottawa location those solar modules will produce around 8, kwh of electrical energy per average year, and they will do that for 30 years or more. It may not sound like much, but that is a reasonably windy place. Keep in mind, you need that much wind just to break even in energy production vs. To outweigh the disadvantages of small turbines you better have more! The short version is that of every home owners, there will likely be 85 or more that have a suitable location for solar energy, while there may be 1 or none with a suitable location for wind energy. Anything green or yellow is not a good wind resource location. Here in Canada the distribution is similar, in that the good places are in the mid-west and very close to the shores of the great lakes and oceans. But I Have Lots of Wind! People consistently overestimate how windy their place actually is. They forget about all the times the wind does not blow, and only remember the windy days. Such is human nature. Before even considering a small wind turbine you need to have a good idea of the annual average wind speed for your site. The gold standard is to install a data-logging anemometer wind meter at the same height and location as the proposed wind turbine, and let it run for 3 to 5 years. Truth is that it is usually much too expensive to do for small wind turbines, and while logging for 1 year could give you some idea and is the absolute minimum for worthwhile wind information, it is too short to be very reliable. For most of us, the more economical way to find out about the local average wind speed is by looking at a wind atlas, meteorological data, airport information and possibly the local vegetation for windy spots the trees take on interesting shapes. If you do install an anemometer and measure the wind over one or more years, you should compare the annual average wind speed obtained from your anemometer data to the annual average of the nearest airport or meteo-station for that same year. This will tell you if your site is more or less windy than that airport or meteo-station, and by how much. It will not be exact, but it will make your short-term anemometer data much more useful. Even with government incentives, you would be better off with solar for most places. If the installer did her job properly, the turbine is spinning in nice, clean, laminar air, and it will produce around 13, kwh per year. You are the kind of person that wins the lottery on a regular basis, marries a beauty queen or king, and has kids that all go to ivy-league universities; your wind turbine never breaks and you do not have to shell out a single buck for maintenance over 20 years. Now your turbine has produced around, kwh of electricity, which works out to Maybe you pay more than for electricity and it is worth it, but your are likely not getting rich, and any repairs and maintenance will drive that price up in a hurry. The energy in the wind goes up with the cube of the wind speed. Sit back and let the full weight of that sink in for a moment: It means that even a small difference in annual average wind speed will make a BIG difference in how much your wind turbine will produce: Moral of this story: Wind speed matters, and you need a very, VERY windy place for a small wind turbine to be economically feasible! Location, Location, Location Tower height vs. That message seems lost, not only on most small wind turbine owners, but also on many manufacturers and installers of said devices. If you are one of those that is convinced the earth is flat, this is the turbine for you! Wind turbines need wind. Not just any wind, but the nicely flowing, smooth, laminar kind. That cannot be found at 30 feet height. It can usually not be found at 60 feet. Sometimes you find it at 80 feet. More often than not it takes feet of tower to get there. Those towers cost as much or more, installed, as the turbine itself. How much tower you need for a wind turbine to live up to its potential depends on your Page 6

7 particular site; on the trees and structures around it etc. Close to the ground the wind is turbulent, and makes a poor fuel for a small wind turbine. The graph on the right shows how a change in tower height affects the available power in the wind for a site that does not have obstructions buildings, trees etc. Besides getting above turbulent air it can often be financially worth it to go with a taller tower, since so much more energy can be harvested. Wind turbines do work; put them in nice, smooth air and their energy production is quite predictable we will get to predicting it a bit further on in this story. The honest manufacturers do not lie or exaggerate, their turbines really can work as advertised in smooth, laminar airflow. Roof tops, or other locations on a house, make for poor turbine sites. They are usually very turbulent and on top of that their average wind speeds are usually very low. Be sure to read our section on wind turbine site selection, understand it, and no wind installer will ever pull the wool over your eyes again. Since you are working hard to read this rather lengthy article, here is some entertainment. So, put your feet up and enjoy the next picture: The fact that an installer would even consider installing in a place like that. Customers that are too uninformed to know better and their installer clearly is not interested in educating them. Turbine manufacturers that deliver standard towers that are much too short to be effective; this tower plus turbine is just 23 feet tall! The last one is not really a lie I suppose: Anything goes, and no claim is too bold. Wind turbine manufacturers will even routinely make claims that are not supported by the Laws of Physics. Energy production claims are often exaggerated, as are power curves. In fact, this is the rule, not the exception. Those manufacturers that tell the truth are the exception. Many manufacturers have never tested their wind turbines under real-world conditions. Some have never tested their turbine before selling it to unsuspecting customers. We are not joking! Because we sell grid-tie inverters for small wind turbines we have a front-row seat when it comes to actual operation of turbines of many makes and models. Besides getting a working product, the one measure you are after as a small wind turbine owner is how much electrical energy it will produce for your location. Hopefully by now you know the annual average wind speed for the height that you are planning to put your turbine at, and you have selected a site with little turbulence. Here is an equation that will calculate approximate annual average energy production for a grid-tie horizontal axis turbine of reasonable efficiency: That is a reasonable, real-world efficiency number. Here is a table that shows how average annual wind speed, turbine size, and annual energy production relate: Page 7

8 Chapter 5 : Home Wind Power: Yes, in My Backyard! MOTHER EARTH NEWS The Green Power Generator Model GPGEW is an The Green Power Generator Model GPGEW is an electric start gasoline powered generator that delivers starting watts and Watt of continuous power to support home leisure or building needs. The cc 15HP LCT (Liquide Combustion Technology) OVH engine and Gal. gas tank provides. Basic information on wind energy and wind power technology, resources, and issues of concern. Wind Energy and Wind Power Wind is a form of solar energy. This wind flow, or motion energy, when "harvested" by modern wind turbines, can be used to generate electricity. How Wind Power Is Generated The terms "wind energy" or "wind power" describe the process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power. This mechanical power can be used for specific tasks such as grinding grain or pumping water or a generator can convert this mechanical power into electricity to power homes, businesses, schools, and the like. Wind Turbines Wind turbines, like aircraft propeller blades, turn in the moving air and power an electric generator that supplies an electric current. Simply stated, a wind turbine is the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to make wind, like a fan, wind turbines use wind to make electricity. The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity. Wind Turbine Types Modern wind turbines fall into two basic groups; the horizontal-axis variety, like the traditional farm windmills used for pumping water, and the vertical-axis design, like the eggbeater-style Darrieus model, named after its French inventor. Most large modern wind turbines are horizontal-axis turbines. Turbine Components blade or rotor, which converts the energy in the wind to rotational shaft energy; a drive train, usually including a gearbox and a generator; a tower that supports the rotor and drive train; and other equipment, including controls, electrical cables, ground support equipment, and interconnection equipment. Wind turbine diagram - click for enlarged image. Turbine Configurations Wind turbines are often grouped together into a single wind power plant, also known as a wind farm, and generate bulk electrical power. Electricity from these turbines is fed into a utility grid and distributed to customers, just as with conventional power plants. See Wind Energy Photos page for wind farm photographs. Wind Turbine Size and Power Ratings Wind turbines are available in a variety of sizes, and therefore power ratings. The largest machine has blades that span more than the length of a football field, stands 20 building stories high, and produces enough electricity to power 1, homes. A small home-sized wind machine has rotors between 8 and 25 feet in diameter and stands upwards of 30 feet and can supply the power needs of an all-electric home or small business. Utility-scale turbines range in size from 50 to kilowatts. Single small turbines, below 50 kilowatts, are used for homes, telecommunications dishes, or water pumping. See Wind Energy Photos page for wind turbine photographs. Wind resources are characterized by wind-power density classes, ranging from class 1 the lowest to class 7 the highest. Good wind resources e. Wind speed is a critical feature of wind resources, because the energy in wind is proportional to the cube of the wind speed. In other words, a stronger wind means a lot more power. Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind-Generated Electricity A Renewable Non-Polluting Resource Wind energy is a free, renewable resource, so no matter how much is used today, there will still be the same supply in the future. Wind energy is also a source of clean, non-polluting, electricity. Unlike conventional power plants, wind plants emit no air pollutants or greenhouse gases. According to the U. It would take a forest of 90 million to million trees to provide the same air quality. Cost Issues Even though the cost of wind power has decreased dramatically in the past 10 years, the technology requires a higher initial investment than fossil-fueled generators. If wind generating systems are compared with fossil-fueled systems on a "life-cycle" cost basis counting fuel and operating expenses for the life of the generator, however, wind costs are much more competitive with other generating technologies because there is no fuel to purchase and minimal operating expenses. Most of these problems have been resolved or greatly reduced through technological development or by properly siting wind plants. Supply and Transport Issues The major challenge to using wind as a source of power is that it is intermittent and does not always blow when electricity is needed. Wind cannot be stored although wind-generated electricity can be stored, if batteries are used, and not all winds can be harnessed to meet the timing of electricity demands. Page 8

9 Further, good wind sites are often located in remote locations far from areas of electric power demand such as cities. Finally, wind resource development may compete with other uses for the land, and those alternative uses may be more highly valued than electricity generation. However, wind turbines can be located on land that is also used for grazing or even farming. For More Information Much additional information on wind energy science and technology and wind energy development issues is available through the Web. Visit the Wind Energy Links page to access sites with more information. In particular, the DOE Wind Energy Technologies page has good information on wind energy basics, and is the source for much of the information presented here. The American Wind Energy Association web site has an excellent FAQ page with information about wind technology, and the The Danish Wind Industry Association web site has extensive information about wind energy and technology, including a minute video introducing wind technology. Page 9

10 Chapter 6 : Residential Wind Energy Systems - Bergey Wind PowerBergey Wind Power The book covers all the wind power basics, from estimating your wind resource (distribution of wind speeds for your particular site), to estimating your annual energy output with a given system, to costing the system and issues related to siting and installation. The wind turbine, which is installed on top of a tall tower, collects wind energy and converts it into electricity. The turbine output is then made electrically compatible with the utility and the output is fed into the household wiring at the breaker panel. The home is served simultaneously by the wind turbine and the utility. If the wind speed is below 7 mph there will be no output from the wind turbine and all of the needed power is bought from the utility. As the wind speed increases the turbine output increases and the amount of power purchased from the utility is proportionately decreased. When the turbine output is more 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. In northern parts of the country, where less air conditioning is used, the bills can be very low year round. What size would I need for my home? Homes typically use 1,, kilowatt-hours of electricity per month. Depending upon the average wind speed in the area this will require a wind turbine rated in the range kilowatts. It has a rotor diameter of 23 feet and is typically installed on 80 or foot towers. Who should consider buying one? A wind turbine is a relatively large device and it is not suitable for urban or small-lot suburban homes. We recommend a property size of one acre or more. The economics of a wind system are determined by the average wind speed in the area, the availability of rebates or tax credits, and the cost of electricity. We have wind resource maps for the entire U. Residential wind turbines have been installed in all 50 states. Will it help the environment if I install a wind turbine at my home? Wind turbines produce no pollution and by using wind power you will be offsetting pollution that would have been generated by your utility company. For residential systems the cost of taking wind measurements is not justified in most situations. Wind resource data published by the U. In very hilly or mountainous areas, however, it may be prudent to take wind data before purchasing a system to ensure that your site in not in a sheltered area. Are wind turbines reliable, and what about maintenance? Bergey Windpower sells more residential systems than anyone else because our turbines have proven to be the most reliable on the market. Our turbines have only 3 or 4 moving parts and do not require any regular maintenance. Do they make noise or interfere with TV reception? Small wind turbines do make some noise, but not enough to be found objectionable by most people. They do not interfere with TV reception. Will the utility company allow me to hook-up a wind generator? Federal regulations PURPA require utilities to allow you to install a wind generator and to pay you for any excess power you produce. Bergey Windpower can assist you in arranging the required utility company approvals. Will I have to change any of the wiring in my house? No, a wind turbine is easily retrofitted to virtually any home without need of changing any wiring or appliances. In some states a second utility meter will be added, however, so that the utility can know how much electricity you have sold to them. Usually a tower of between feet is supplied along with the wind turbine. Towers this tall are required to get above the turbulence generated by obstacles and trees on the ground. Also, wind velocity, and, therefore, wind turbine performance, increases as you get higher off the ground. For most situations an 80 or foot tower is sufficient. The most economical type of tower is the guyed lattice type, but other types that are hinged or have no guy wires are also available. How much do they cost? Towers without guy wires are more expensive than guyed towers. How are they as an investment? That depends on your cost of electricity and average wind speed. The wind system will usually recoup its investment through utility savings within years and after that the electricity it produces will be virtually free. Compared to purchasing utility power, a wind system can be a good investment because your money goes to increasing the value of your home rather than just paying for a service. Many people buy wind systems for their retirement because they are concerned about utility rate increases. How would I proceed to have a wind turbine installed at my home? There are two routes: The first route requires less work on your part and offers a higher level of after-sales support. The self-installation route offers meaningful savings. We would be happy to discuss the various approaches with you to determine which Page 10

11 is best for your situation. How can I get more information? We would be happy to send you further information on our small wind turbines or answer any of your questions. Just call or write to Bergey Windpower Co. We recommend the small wind section of the web site of the American Wind Energy Association: Call us at if you have additional questionsâ or write us at: Chapter 7 : The Truth About Small Wind Turbines - Solacity Inc. Your small wind turbine may be eligible for a grant and/or guaranteed loan through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) if the power produced will be used in a rural farm or business. In addition, some equipment may be depreciated for tax purposes. Chapter 8 : Wind Power: Renewable Energy for Home, Farm, and Business, 2nd Edition - Paul Gipe - Goo Home» Electricity & Fuel» Buying & Making Electricity» Small Wind Electric Systems Energy Wind Turbines Wind power is the fastest growing source of energy in the world -- efficient, cost effective, and non-polluting. Chapter 9 : Scottish Power shifts to % wind generation after  m Drax sale Business The Guardian Why Bergey? Bergey Windpower is the oldest and most experienced manufacturer of residential-sized wind turbines in the world. Thirty years ago Bergey pioneered the radically-simple "Bergey design" that has proven to provide the best reliability, performance, service life, and value of all of the hundreds of competitive products that have come and gone in that time. Page 11