Small Wind Power System For the Home Owner
Wind Power System For Home Owners
This web site will help you decide whether a wind energy system is practical for you. It will explain the benefits, help you assess your wind resource and possible sites, discuss legal and environmental obstacles, and analyze economic considerations such as pricing.
In the 1920s and 30s, farm families throughout the Midwest used wind to generate enough electricity to power their lights and electric motors. The use of wind power system declined with the government-subsidized construction of utility lines and fossil fuel power plants. However, the energy crisis in the 1970s and a growing concern for the environment generated an interest in alternative, environmentally friendly energy resources. Today, homeowners in rural and remote locations across the nation are once again examining the possibility of using a wind power system to provide electricity for their domestic needs.
A wind power system can provide you with a cushion against electric power price increases. Wind power systems help reduce U.S. dependence on fossil fuels, and they are non-polluting. If you live in a remote location, a small wind energy system can help you avoid the high costs of having the utility power lines extended to your site.
Although wind power systems involve a significant initial investment, they can be competitive with conventional energy sources when you account for a lifetime of reduced or altogether avoided utility costs. The length of the payback period- the time before the savings resulting from your system equal the cost of the system itself- depends on the system you choose, the wind resource on your site, electricity costs in your area, and how you use your wind power system.
Wind turbines for domestic or rural applications range in size from a few watts to thousands of watts and can be applied economically for a variety of power demands.
Is A Wind Power System Practical for You?
Small wind power systems can be used in connection with an electricity transmission and distribution system (called grid connected systems), or in stand-alone applications that are not connected to the utility grid. A grid-connected wind turbine can reduce your consumption of utility supplied electricity for lighting, appliances, and electric heat. If the turbine cannot deliver the amount of energy you need, the utility makes up the difference. When the wind system produces more electricity than the household requires, the excess can be sold to the utility. With the inter-connections available today, switching takes place automatically. Stand-alone wind energy systems can be appropriate for homes, farms, or even entire communities ( a co-housing project, for example) that are far from the nearest utility lines. Either type of system can be practical if the following conditions exist.
Conditions for Stand-Alone Systems
You live in an area with average annual wind speeds of at least 9 miles per hour (4.0 meters per second).
A grid connection is not available or can only be made through an expensive extension. The cost of running a power line to a remote site to connect with the utility grid can be prohibitive, ranging from $15,000.00 to more than $70,000.00 per mile, depending on terrain.
You have an interest in gaining energy independence from the utility.
You would like to reduce the environmental impact of electricity production.
You acknowledge the intermittent nature of wind power and have a strategy for using intermittent resources to meet your power needs.
Conditions for Grid-Connected Systems
You live in an area with average annual wind speeds of at least 10 miles per hour (4.5 meters per second)
Utility supplied electricity is expensive in your area (about 10 to 15 cents per kilowatt hour or more)
The utilitys requirements for connecting your system to its grid are not prohibitively expensive.
Local building codes or covenants allow you to legally erect a wind turbine on your property.
You are comfortable with long term investments.
Additional Considerations
In addition to the factors listed previously, you should also:
Research potential legal and environmental obstacles.
Obtain cost and performance information from manufacturers.
Perform a complete economic analysis that accounts for a multitude of factors.
Understand the basics of a small wind system, and Review possibilities for combining your system with other energy sources, back-ups, and energy efficiency improvements.
You should establish an energy budget to help define the size of turbine that will be needed. Since energy efficiency is usually less expensive than energy production, making your house more energy efficient first will likely result in being able to spend less money since you may need a smaller wind turbine to meet your needs.
Source List:
The following organizations can provide you with information to help decide whether a wind energy system is right for you.
Alternative Energy Institute (AEI)
West Texas A&M University, Box 248, Canyon, TX 79016 (806)656-2296 AEI conducts field trials at its Wind Turbine Test Center and is a source of information on small wind turbines
American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)
122 C Street, NW, 4th Floor, Washington,DC 20001, (202)383-2500
AWEA is a source for DOE wind maps, lists of manufacturers and dealers, information on wind power tax credits, and other wind energy information.
Reading List
Home Power
P.O. Box 520, Ashland, OR 97520-0520, (916)475-3179
This periodical provides practical information, case studies, and advice on designing, installing, and living with small power systems.