Wind Power FAQ

All the questions that you had about wind power, Wind power systems and wind turbine are answered here

Is wind power right for everyone?
Residential wind energy systems have been installed in 47 of the 50 states in USA, mostly in the Midwest and Northeast.
A hybrid wind-solar system may be a better choice than a wind system alone. When the sun is shining, the wind tends to slack off. When the sun sets, the wind picks up. The windy winter months have the least hours of daylight, while the sun-soaked summer typically sees the lowest average wind speeds. A hybrid system's versatility can ensure that your home always has the power it needs.

How can I know if my home suitable for a wind turbine?
It is essential to understand that the electricity generated by a wind turbine is highly dependent on the speed and direction of the wind. The wind speed itself is dependent on a number of factors, such as location, height of the turbine above ground level and nearby obstacles. We recommend that, if you are considering building mounted installation and electricity generation, then you only consider a wind turbine under the following circumstances:

• The local annual average wind speed is 6 m/s or more
• there are no significant nearby obstacles such as buildings, trees or hills that are likely to reduce the wind speed or increase turbulence

How much does a micro wind turbine cost and how much electricity does it generate?
If the turbine is grid connected, money can be earned for selling excess electricity, although the rate at which energy companies buy exported electricity is generally lower than the rate at which they sell electricity.
The amount of energy and carbon that roof-mounted micro wind turbines (400W to 1.5kW) and mast mounted turbines can save depends on a number of factors, mostly the local wind speed. Further factors include the size (peak rating) of the turbine, location, nearby buildings and the local landscape.

How does renewable wind energy work?
Your wind turbine installed on top its tower, collects the wind's kinetic energy and converts it to electricity that your home can use. Most home settings combine wind energy with either "grid power" from your local utility company, or build a hybrid wind-solar energy system, to endure a steady supply of power. When there isn't enough wind (usually 7-10 mph) for the wind turbine to work, your home is either powered by the utility company, just as it was before you installed your wind energy system, or by the solar energy source.

What size turbine do I need?
Power output from a wind turbine depends on the size of the rotors and the wind speed. A 10 kWh turbine in a relatively active wind area can easily produce enough energy to power your home for a year. Compare that to the huge 1.5 Megawatt turbines used to produce commercial wind energy electricity, which can power 500 homes each year.

Will a turbine really save me money?
A wind energy system, especially a wind-solar hybrid system, can cut your electricity bills from 50% to 100%. Customers that remain "on the grid" can see bills of $8 to $10 for much of the year, while those that choose to go completely "off grid" can eliminate their electrical bills altogether.

Aren't wind turbines noisy?
Well, yes and no. Turbines do generate some noise, but it is usually not sufficient to be a problem watching TV or carrying on conversation. Most small residential turbines produce less noise than your average washing machine.

What about electrical interference?
Residential wind turbines do not produce any electrical interference. Your television and radio signals, mobile phones and other electronic devices will work as they always have.

How much space do I need?
Most towers can be installed in one small square yard of level ground. You need to ensure that you have enough room away from potentially turbulence-causing structures, such as buildings and trees, to allow your turbine to function optimally. You will also need interior or sheltered areas for the controller, battery bank and inverter placement.
Your tower is going to need 80 to 120 feet of clear vertical space. This is because the higher you go, the better the wind. Turbulence can disrupt wind flow around buildings and through trees. Also take into consideration, the higher the altitude, the higher the wind's speed. So, a tower of 80 to 120 feet high is necessary to capture the ideal wind to produce your home's energy.

Is wind power really environmentally friendly?
Yes. Wind turbine systems use no energy, and using one can offset the pollution that would be produced on your behalf by the power company. A wind energy system can, over its lifetime, offset greenhouse gases that would have otherwise been produced to power your home by as much as 200 tons. That's a lot of carbon dioxide and other pollutants that you'll not be contributing.

How much does a wind energy system cost compared to other alternative sources of electricity?
A wind system can be more expensive to install than diesel, biomass or mini-hydro systems. Wind power, however, is less costly and easier to maintain over the long run. A diesel generator can cost tens of thousands to operate in today's high-priced fuel market. A mini-hydro system will require much more maintenance and upkeep than a turbine. So, while your initial lay-out may be more, the money you save over time will than make up for it.

How much electricity can wind turbines and other renewable energy facility produce?
1.5 KW wind turbine or hydro plant would be sufficient for an average home usage.

What happens during a power outage?
There are two types of power systems. One type of system powers your home during windy times, but does do it when the wind speed drops below 7 MPH. Another type of system powers your home windy hours ours, but also has a battery designed to store the excess power and provide power to your home’s critical loads during an outage, day or night.
What do the terms on-grid, grid-connected, grid-tied and off-grid mean?
On-grid, grid-connected or grid-tied means connected to the local power company. Many systems are designed as on-grid systems, meaning that they interconnect with your existing power service. Off-grid refers to systems that are not connected to the local power company.

Are government incentives available to reduce the price?
Yes. Many governments and states offer rebate and incentive programs for homeowners and small businesses to promote the installation of renewable energy equipment. Incentives can cut the cost of your system in half.

Want to know more? Take a look at Home Wind power page

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