![]() ![]() Anything lower is best paired with solar or used to power small applications. If you’re just trying to harness wind energy, you’ll probably want to choose a higher-power kit generating at least 1500-2000 W. If you’re thinking of going full bore on the renewables, it’s best to check with the companies making the products to ensure full compatibility prior to buying. In some cases, you may run into problems with wiring though, with solar arrays needing to be positioned very close to or even on the turbine tower to ensure electrical safety. ![]() Some models of wind turbine and solar panels are designed to work well together and may even be enhanced if you hook them up. This maximizes your day and night energy production and can help you go fully off-grid. Pairing Wind and Solar to Save More Moneyīecause it tends to be windiest at night, wind turbines and solar panels make an excellent pairing. How long it takes to pay back your investment depends on how much energy the turbine ends up producing and how much you typically pay for electricity through the grid. Realistically, any turbine that produces less than 500 W is a waste of money and time, unless it’s to power lights in a remote location on your property where it’s hard to route a regular power line.Ī good general rule is to look for a home wind turbine that can produce at least 1000 W.īear in mind that while a 2-megawatt turbine could repay the energy required to produce and install the turbine and yield a net benefit, within 5-8 months of operation, a home wind turbine is far less powerful, with top models generating only around 2,000 W and most clocking in at far less. This is enough to charge small appliances such as your laptop, lights, and power tools. If you aren’t planning on living off-grid and just want a turbine to power a pump for a pond, or the power for a studio in the garden, a turbine only needs to produce some 400-1000 Watts. Instead, you can combine several wind turbines and/or wind turbines and solar or microhydro systems.Īnd, of course, it also pays to make energy upgrades to your home, such as insulation, new windows, draft-proofing, and so forth. To go off-grid, you’ll need to produce 5-15 kW of power, which isn’t achievable using most home wind turbines. How Much Energy do you Need Your Turbine to Produce?Īverage household energy consumption in the US hovers around 8000-9400 kWh per year. So, overall, the cut-in speed is probably the most important number to note (along with the safe wind speed if you live in a super windy area). Realistically, though, you’re unlikely to consistently achieve the rated wind speed and maximum energy production. The rated wind speed is also important to note as this is often the speed used to calculate how much energy could be produced and how much this might offset energy bills. After all, if it never reaches the cut-in speed, all you have is a fancy yard ornament. the maximum wind speed before the turbine is vulnerable to wind damage)Īs you might imagine, the starting wind speed isn’t all that useful when figuring out the right turbine for your situation. Rated wind speed (when the turbine reaches maximum energy capacity).Cut-in speed (when the blades start turning and producing energy).Starting wind speed (when the blades start turning but don’t produce usable power). ![]() Things to look for when choosing a home wind turbine: A 3-blade model will struggle more in a low wind area.Ĭheck to figure out if wind power is a viable energy source where you live. You could look for a lower threshold turbine if you live in a less windy area, and a turbine with more blades (9-11, say) can keep the rotor spinning because there’s more torque, weight, and blade surface area overall. Anything less isn’t maximizing the turbine’s capacity. Most wind turbines require winds of 27 mph for full energy production. Solar panels are the way to go in such cases. If you’ve got little wind where you live (less than 6-7 mph), or have winds that are too strong (over 90 mph), or if you’re just in a densely populated urban area, a wind turbine is not likely to be a good option for you. To achieve this, you’re looking at installing a turbine with around a 13-18 foot rotor diameter, and it will need to be placed somewhere with strong winds for most of the year. a 600 W turbine costs around $600, and expect to pay about $1500 for a larger 1500 W turbine.Ī typical single-family home will require a home wind turbine to generate 5 kW to meet household energy needs. To set up a wind turbine and benefit from it, you’ll need some land, a high voltage battery bank, and some gumption to set it up. Jump to details How to Choose a Home Wind Turbine WINDMILL 1500 W Wind Turbine Generator Kit ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |