by Suncor Energy

Home Wind Power – Hardly An Option?

Building Home wind power is an important part to our global efforts to explore renewable energy sources. The big picture behind it is the big challenge to us brought by the depletion of traditional sources of energy supply. Much like the solar energy, the source of wind energy is not just clean but renewable. And, once the windmill is put up, there is almost no additional cost for power consumption. Unsurprisingly, the average growth of wind usage has been at about twenty-five percent in the last ten years.

A good wind power system for a home is made up of at least one tower, with a turbine turned by five blades. These blazes rotate as a result of the pressure difference caused by the air moving over their surfaces, and they turn a rotor which drives an electrical generator.

For those who have been using home wind power systems, they usually store the electricity produced with batteries and use it as a backup to their solar system or their traditional grid system. If you are new to the wind power technology, you may find it difficult to understand why, compared to solar power, wind power has not yet been widely used for home power supply. To answer to that, let us examine the conditions that need to be met for a wind power system to work efficiently:

1. Wind power works best in larger areas of at least an acre in size, as this gives wind a chance to flow freely.

2. Wind generally needs to be above ten miles per hour. In other words, there has to be a heavy flow of wind, otherwise your system is not going to work.

These are very strict conditions, and obviously there are more families who are ready to accommodate solar panels than those who are qualified to build a personal wind mill. In fact, there are more factors to hinder wind power from being the number one source of alternative energy:

1. Wind system is more visually intrusive. In order for the wind turbines to stick up into the air and catch the wind, they have to stand on a tall tower. In fact, the taller the tower, the more efficiently the turbine works.

2. Wind turbines can produce noises and vibrations, and therefore are not regarded as a completely “clean” energy solution. This, coupled with their visual intrusiveness, has been the major causes for home owners not getting the permission to install windmills for personal use.

3. Any system with moving parts is more prone to breakdown, which is a big headache for home owners who are less technical savvy.

Now, there is little doubt why home wind power is not as widely employed as solar power. Having said that, wind power is still a big part of the renewable energy mix, and is a perfect supplement to those who have largely turned to solar energy as a home power solution. If you feel like to give it a try, do remember to check out your zoning requirements in the first place.

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Ventamatic CX14IBALBLK Superior Internally Braced Aluminum Wind Turbine

• 14″ blk int brc turbine
• 14″ superior internally braced wind turbine attic exhaust vent
• Aluminum construction
• Premium grade upper and lower stainless steel ball bearings with integrated molded shield to protect
• Dual ball bearings – adjusts to 12/12 pitch

14” superior internally braced wind turbine attic exhaust vent. Aluminum construction. Premium grade upper and lower stainless steel ball bearings with integrated molded shield to protect bearing raceway. Dual ball bearings adjusts to 12 12 pitch. Premium bracing system engineered for high wind resistance. Tested to ensure durability and performance in extreme temperatures and high winds. This exhaust vent requires adequate soffit intake vents. Includes: Base and riser. Lifetime limited warranty. No. CX14IBALBLK: Black No. CX14IBALBRN: Brown

Rating: (out of 1 reviews)

List Price: $ 42.99

Price: $ 38.32

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by mischiru

Home Wind Power: How You Can SAVE Money Using It

Home Wind Power: No More Energy Bills to Pay! Read on to Learn More

Over the past years, most people never considered wind power as a serious source of generating energy and electricity, that too, for domestic purposes. In fact, wind was perceived as just another natural phenomenon with very limited usage in life. People generally reveled when the weather was pleasant, and tried to protect themselves when storms or blizzards attacked an area.

However, the situation grew more serious over time, as the oil crisis hit the world. The prices of oil rose rapidly, and the need for an alternative, less expensive source of energy was felt acutely. Such an energy source would indeed be required pretty soon. Now, wind power fitted the bill perfectly. In addition, the supply of wind power was plentiful as well. Thus, many experts tried to combine automobile alternators to radiator cooling fans. This was expected to produce 12 volts of DC current, and was quickly stored away on automotive storage 12 volt batteries. However stretching whatever little power that was produced to 120 volts of AC current, proved to be an unpractical task for most people. And thus, these trials on wind energy harnessing came to an end.

Business houses however, remained extremely active during this period. By the latter parts of 2007, wind power driven devices, like mini generators and turbines arrived in the markets, in large quantities too. Provided that enough quantities of wind power were available, these devices, coupled with utility grids, could substantially bring down the costs incurred on electricity by people. Experts decided to experiment a bit more with these equipments, in keeping with their mental make-ups. The wind turbines were used to try to generate electricity for one’s home requirements. The potential benefits of such an experiment were huge.

It was not that all these attempts met with immediate success. Many people found the continuous roaring sound emitted by the wind turbines to be eminently disagreeable. Hence, they complained of mechanical nuisance to the local authorities, against their neighbors, demanding the turbines to be stopped. In such cases, the authorities were in fact bound to put a stop on the working of any win d turbine. The wind power generated by the turbines lacked in reliability as well. Often, the power could not even spin the turbine blades. The impact of these failed experiments was profound. People were saddled with debt, and attempted to resell their electrical equipments, including the turbines, related accessories, and the inverters that were meant to generate 12 volt usable AC current from the obtained DC power. However, not many were interested in buying these products then.

However, it was not all a story of failure and gloom. Several valuable lessons could be gleaned from these failed attempts to harness wind power. Some of these lessons were:

a) Never use wind turbines in congested city areas. The high rises and sky scrapers hamper the smooth flow of wind at these places.

b) Do not try to tap wind energy by using turbines in the urban regions. The noises affect the ecological balance of the area.

c) For best results, combine a solar electricity generator with the home wind power turbines. The former can work smoothly during daytime. As night arrives, the blades of the wind turbine can start to rotate

d) Erect home wind turbines at areas of high elevation and/or at remote places. The former would get smooth, unhampered flow of wind at such places.

e) Opt for home wind turbines if you cannot access utility power, and

f) Note the similarities between a small home wind turbine and a large scale energy firms. The structure, and hence, the complexities of the two are thus the same too, albeit in different degrees. The different components of the home turbines and larger wind energy firms, including the batteries (for smooth flow of power), the torque controller, the inverter (for conversion of DC output to 120 volt AC current) were all the same too.

Thus, you can learn from these lessons and set up your wind power system – all you need to do is refer to an instruction manual. The manual would help you know how to install the system, the ideal place to do so, as well as how to acquire different parts at an affordable price. Free availability of the batteries is also discussed in the manual. The wires of the wind power system, and the safety features related therein should also be given due importance in such a manual. So go ahead and read such a manual and get ready to benefit from wind power. This information would considerably ease the process of installation of the system and using it to your advantage.

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by hddod

Making A Home Wind Turbine

When one thinks of a home wind turbine, what most probably comes to mind is a gigantic tower with jumbo-jet sized spinning blades. But, with everyone becoming more aware of conserving energy, the technology has advanced so much that it is now possible to have your own small-scale wind turbine at home. Even better is the opportunity for us to make our own, without having to rely on the professionals.

So, how does a home wind turbine make power?

A home wind turbine makes power by spinning a generator. The generator is attached to the rotor, made up of three aerodynamic blades, that is then attached to a tower. To keep the turbine facing the wind, the rotor has a tail, that acts as a weather vain.

The generator is basically an electric motor. As the coils in the motor spin past the magnets, an electric current is produced. The power produced is stored in batteries, which are connected to an inverter to change the direct current to alternating current, which can then be used to power your home. The advancement of motor efficiency, is the reason wind turbines have become so popular for home use.

Depending on your area’s wind conditions, the tower can vary in length. If you live near the sea where it is windy, the tower can be shorter, but in low-wind areas the tower needs to be taller to catch as much wind possible.

Over time the blades have improved drastically as researchers developed lighter, stronger, more efficient blades, with the capability of turning even in the lightest breeze. Back in the day, wind turbines had five blades, and looked similar to windmill water pumps, but recently they have moved to three blades, taking the form of over-sized airplane rotors. Like the tower, the blades vary in size, according to your wind conditions and energy requirements.

While so far we have been explaining the typical horizontal axis wind turbine, there is another design that is starting to gain popularity for small-scale projects. It is the vertical axis wind turbine or VAWT. Very different to the standard horizontal axis turbine, the VAWT spins on a vertical axis, and almost looks like a waterwheel put on its side. Since the VAWT tends to operate low to ground, it needs far more wind to make it turn efficiently, so it is not the ideal option for homeowners or small businesses. The VAWT has also been accused by ecologists of interrupting and harming various migratory birds, making it less attractive for green enthusiasts.

Before going out and installing a wind turbine, it is best to ask yourself the following questions:

- How big is the property?

Wind turbines generally operate better in large areas that cover an acre. This is because wind flow is not deflected by any nearby buildings.

- What is the average wind speed?

The recommended wind speed should be at least eleven miles per hour, but if that isn’t the case then you may have to use a taller tower and larger blades to catch higher altitude winds.

- What else can I use the wind turbine for?

If you could use the turbine for other purposes, such as pumping in water from outside, then it may be useful than you think. This is the reason you see so many windmills scattered over farms – they help pump water from reservoirs to the farmhouse.

- Does my house need a constant power supply?

This is why so many people want to get a small wind turbine in the first place – to keep the house powered during blackouts, and prevent economic losses. Although the wind turbine may not power the house all the time, it’s stored power can be used in emergencies, when the utilities are just not enough.

Answering these questions will give you a good idea of how much power you need, how big the tower a blades need to be, and how much it would be worth investing to start making your own power at home.

The great thing about technology is that it is always improving. So much so that motors have become smaller, efficient and cheap enough for us to attach a few small turbines right on the roof, and produce the same power as a larger turbine on a tall tower.

Although professional home wind turbines can run into several thousands of dollars, it is possible to make your own for a tenth of the price, with components found at home and your local hardware store. Furthermore, the U.S. offers both state and federal tax credits that you can use to offset the installation cost. So not only will you reduce your electricity bill, but also your tax at the same time.

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PowerMax 1KW Wind Generators

• 1 KW Wind Generator, CE Listed 2 Year Warranty
• Low start up wind speed of 4.5 mph.
• Low rated wind speed, generate 1KW at 20 mph
• Rotor Diameter is 8.86 feet
• Output 48 Volt, off grid

CE listed and ISO 9001 certified genuine 1 KW wind generator system with 48 Volt output. Good for homes, cabin or remote area which need off grid systems. Low cost. Easy set up. Include generator, tail, blades, hub, nose cone, charge controller, inverter, electrical cable. The charge controller and inverter are covered by one year warranty and all the other parts are covered by 2 year factory warranty. The buyer need poles and batteries to set the system up. Contact us if you need further help!

Price: $ 1,633.82

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Related Wind Turbine Products

Wind power on the rise in Idaho
MAGIC VALLEY — More than 100 wind turbines will soon dot the landscape of southern Idaho after Gov. Butch Otter joined with GE and partners to launch construction on the state’s largest wind power
Read more on Idaho Press-Tribune

Solar, wind power ‘could become Earth’s dominant contributor of energy’
Washington, Aug 25 : Wind and solar power could become the world’s main sources of energy, a Nobel-prize winning scientist suggests.
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Wind power panel expanded
LOCKPORT — Three new members were added Tuesday to Niagara County’s fact-finding committee on the New York Power Authority’s proposed wind turbine project.
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Wind Turbine Generator DIY Starter Kit with 126″ Dia Blades, 25 Neo Magnets, Rectifier

• 10.6 Foot (126″) diameter High Efficiency Fiberglass Blades
• 25 Strong Neodymium Magnets with Durable 4 Layer Coating
• 11 LBS Essex Magnet Wire with High Temp Rating
• Steel Hub and Nose Cone
• 210 amp bridge rectifier to convert 3-phase AC to DC

10.6 Foot DIY Wind Turbine Package for DIY Wind Turbine Plan – 1000 to 1500w

The package includes:

One set of 3 High Efficiency Reinforced Fiber Glass Wind Turbine Blades – 10.6 Feet diameter

Wind Turbine Hub. Nose Cone

25 super strong Epoxy+Nickel + Copper+Nickel quadruple layer coated NdFeB Neodymium magnets – Grade N42, stronger and better performance than N40, N38 and N35

11 LB Magnet wire – Original Factory Spool, genuine Essex enameled magnet wire with heavy build

Available magnet wire size in AWG for this package:

13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24

Please read Hugh Piggott’s “How to build wind turbine” book to find out the magnet wire size you need.

Heavy duty 210 amp capacity bridge rectifier to convert 3-phase AC to DC

AC connector pigtail for connection to generator

Crimp-on wire splice connectors

10-12 AWG crimp-on ring terminals

8-10 AWG crimp-on ring terminals.

Magnet Technical Specifications:

Super strong and durable magnets:

2″ x 1″ x 0.5″ Thick N

Price: $ 499.00

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CBS Sunday Morning did a piece on west Texas and their Wind Turbines
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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by lamusa

Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Energy: REVEALED

There are Advantages and Disadvantages for Building Your Own Wind Energy System. Discover What They Are!

Like any other form of energy, wind energy has immediate and obvious advantages but also some drawbacks. Therefore any decision to install wind energy generators must take into account these different factors.

Wind machines and wind turbines can effectively generate energy as electricity for free as long as the wind is available. Because wind is free and renewable, wind turbines generate clean and renewable energy, which already gives it an immense advantage compared to be contaminating fossil fuel plants that have already done so much damage to the earth’s ecology. In addition modern technology means that wind turbines can automatically adjust their blades to maximize the use of wind even if the direction changes.

In different parts of the U.S., large wind energy installations are being created. In Texas for example the Horse Hollow wind energy center is already powering more than 220,000 homes in the neighborhood. This is done through the 421 wind turbines that are in the park. In addition to this, testing of wind turbines and wind machines can be done in places such as the wind park just off the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. It is the first of its kind and likely to be a forerunner of many others.

The immense advantage of wind power that many people see is its cheapness once the initial installation has been made and the fact that using it does not depend on any imported fuel. This is a big advantage compared to fossil fuels such as oil, which the U.S. imports heavily from other countries and therefore must pay for with a considerable part of the national budget.

Wind energy therefore is independent of any particular producer and available to anyone in the country who wishes to use it. Because it is not generated by any particular mechanism specific to any particular country, but rather by the overall effect of the sun’s rays falling on our planet and the way that the earth continually turns on its axis, wind energy is therefore a truly democratic means of generating electricity.

The cost of electricity for wind turbines can be as little as 4 to 6 cents per kilowatt-hour. In making this calculation it is necessary to take into account the financing for the initial installation of the project and also the site selection in terms of the amount of wind available and therefore the amount of electricity that can be generated. However together with other renewable energy of such as solar energy wind energy is one of the cheapest forms of renewable energy anywhere on earth.

In farms and ranches where wind is abundantly available, wind turbine towers can be installed to satisfy a continual demand for low cost electricity. Individual power suppliers also come to business arrangements with farmers renting a few square yards of land to be able to erect towers and generate electricity.

It is perhaps the initial cost of wind turbines, which is the main factor in any financial calculation. Although the initial cost has been reduced over the years, it is still a major factor in terms of installing wind turbines compared with conventional generators. For this reason fossil fuel may still attract investment for some cases.

Wind power is also clearly dependent on the availability of the wind itself. Sites need to be chosen where there is as continual a supply of wind as possible. It should also be remembered that natural phenomena such as tsunamis can have dramatic effects on the weather patterns of any area and therefore of the wind supply and velocity.

Because wind parks need a lot of wind and because towns and cities are often constructed in more sheltered areas there is also the problem of making such renewable energy available to city dwellers. Often the installation of electric cables to carry the electricity from the source to the destination is not a profitable activity.

Environmentally, wind turbines to need to make progress in terms of both their appearance, which can be a blot on the landscape and also the noise that they make. Environmentalists are concerned that the harm of the wind turbines may be a distinct disturbing factor on the surrounding ecology.

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by Photodesaster

Bharatbook : Impact of Financial Crisis on Wind Energy Installations Globally – Analysis and Forecast

Global Wind Energy Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2020 report ( http://www.bharatbook.com/Market-Research-Reports/Global-Wind-Energy-Market-Analysis-and-Forecasts.html ) gives details historical and current statistics relating to wind energy installed capacities and their growth scenarios until the year 2020. It also provides an analysis of the historical and forecast growth of installed capacity, and the market structure and regulatory policies that govern the world’s key wind power countries. The report further includes information relating to the important cost, technological, market, and research and development (R&D) trends on a global basis. It also analyzes the wind power deals that have taken place over the years and gives detailed profiles of the top five market players for each of the sub-sectors in the global wind energy industry.

The report facilitates market analysis and forecasting of future wind energy industry trends. It helps identifying growth segments and opportunities in the energy industry. The news and deals portfolio provided in the report helps an investor to gauge the global wind energy market and accordingly direct their investment.

Of the available renewable energy sources, wind is the most established commercial generating technology with highly effective and reliable equipment and machinery. It has observed tremendous growth, with the total installed capacity augmenting from 23,900 MW in 2001 to over 121,013 MW in 2008, reflecting an annual growth rate of 26% for the 2001-08 period.

Annual Wind Energy Installations to be Impacted by the Financial Crisis
The current financial crisis is severely affecting the growth of wind energy globally. The global wind energy industry is witnessing many cancellations of turbine orders, freezing up and sale of wind farms, and difficulties in securing financial aid for new projects. The worldwide annual wind energy installations will trickle down by more than 15% in the years 2009 and 2010, as against the growth rate of 35% in the new installed capacity of 2008, according to the report. This will further result in a dip in the demand for wind turbines.

Increasing Mergers and Acquisitions to be the Outcome of Financial Crisis
Wind farms are capital-heavy projects with significant up-front investment that can be financed only by large utilities and investment groups. The critical short-term challenge faced by most wind power developers is financing, particularly for under development projects. The economic downturn, resulting in the failure of some of the world’s largest investment banks, has led to an increase in the cost of capital for wind energy projects. Against this backdrop, only a few large wind power companies will be in a position to pursue their project development plans. Shortage of financial resources with smaller players would give an opportunity to the big giants to takeover or form alliances with such companies, thereby increasing the level of consolidation in the wind energy industry.

Declining Share of Europe in By Region Break-up of Wind Energy Capacity
Though Europe is the leading region in terms of the current global cumulative wind energy installed capacity, its share in the world’s wind energy industry has dropped from over 73% in 2001 to 61% in 2007 and 54% in 2008. This is mainly because of the relatively mature status of wind energy markets is many European countries. Also, the faster rate of wind energy growth in the US, China, India and Canada is increasing the share of the North American and Asia-Pacific regions in the global wind energy industry.

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