600 WATTS, 600 BUCKS

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Photos: COURTESY OF SOUTHWEST WINDPOWER

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

ENERGY &ENVIRONMENT

At last! Low-cost wind power hits market.

by Donna Fischer

when the sun doesn't shine, the cooler temperatures help to create a breeze that can be put to work turning a wind turbine.

You're probably aware of the huge wind farms that provide supplemental power to Los Angeles and power entire cities in other countries. I'm excited about the potential for large-scale wind power plants for cities, and in my community I have already begun to see the potential of wind power for the small system do-it-yourselfer.

After apprenticing as an electrician and studying at the Carbondale, Colorado-based Solar Energy International-a nonprofit organization that provides renewable energies education and technical assistance-I started Amazon Power in 1993 and began installing solar in the area. As my clients took an interest in wind, I began installing wind generators to supplement many solar systems.

These generators are often the most sensible way to boost the capacity of an existing photovoltaic (PV) system. A strong wind resource can allow you to have a smaller battery bank for storage. If you're interested in exploring the possibility of adding a small wind turbine to your system, read on for some tips I've gained from working with small units manufactured to provide power to independent homes, small schools and clinics, as well as for pumping water.

Evaluating Wind Potential
—————————————————

First, assess your location for its wind power potential. You can purchase metering devices and obtain average wind speed data from the airport closest to your home. This information is normally collected at 30 feet above ground level, which is about the minimum height to set a wind generator, as wind speeds are somewhat slower and are subject to more obstructions closer to the ground. Inversely, the higher above the ground, the more significant the wind speed.

For a small supplemental generator that can cost as little as $1,000, including the tower and installation, a visual assessment of available wind power can he sufficient. Raise a light flag, and make it a habit to observe trees and shrubbery around your site. If they are perpetually bent, it's a good indication of a persistent wind. At 4 to 7 mph, you can feel the wind on your face and leaves will rustle. At 8 to 12 mph, leaves will be in constant motion and the flag will raise in the wind. Wind speeds of 13 to 18 mph raise dust and move small branches, and at 19 to 24 mph, trees in leaf begin to sway. At 25 mph, large branches begin to move, and you've got great wind-generating potential!

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print