Wind Power
Everyone has felt the power of wind in some way or another. The benefits of wind power are many. Wind power is free to all equipped to take advantage. Wind is constant. Please learn all you can about this great resource and how you can participate in its use as a clean renewable resource.
Harnessing Wind Energy
A good plan goes a long way when it comes to installing a wind turbine. There can be much variability in each site. Also, one should consider potential future changes in the area around a wind turbine site which could negatively effect power generation. Here are some points that should be in every wind turbine site plan.
- Check with your local building department to determine if there are any regulations in place to prohibit the installation of a wind turbine or large tower. If there are such cases, perhaps the local government can pass a variance for situations where the turbine would provide a safe means to supplement fossil fuels.
- Determine if the system is going to be grid-tied or stand alone. If tapping into the grid, the first step is to determine if a grid connection is possible. Many electric utilities are required by law to buy local power generated by private renewables. Contact the local utilities and determine how you can get connected and start generating clean wind power.
- Check all data available on the wind in your area. Area wind maps can be accessed online at Wind Power Resources. You can also purchase data from the National Climatic Data Center.
- You should also gather site specific data. You should always take wind measurements at varying locations at each site thought to have good wind power potential. To receive an accurate measurement of wind speed, you should use an anemometer. This is a tool used to measure wind speed. It is recommended to measure wind speeds for at one year.
- Determine your average monthly energy needs. Think about which appliances are electric and which run on gas. If you run all electric appliances (water heater, stove, and furnace, etc.) you will have quite an greater demand on electricity than someone that has some gas appliances.
- Be prepared to practice energy conservation. Especially in the cases where a stand alone wind turbine is sited, sometimes homeowners fail to realize that they are now the power utility. If the power runs out, it is up to you to generate more, therefore it is a good idea to really practice energy conservation techniques. After all, it can only save you money to start practicing now. Click here for more information.
How a Wind Turbine Works
If you have an idea of how your car's alternator works, then you already know how a wind turbine generates electricity. Wind causes the blades of the wind turbine to move allowing the turbine to generate electicity. Inside the turbine, a series of magnets are turned around copper wire. There is electricity produced by this process which is collected in the copper wire and transmitted to the power grid or battery system.
It all sounds very simple, although the major difficulty is the wind itself. Much planning goes into the successfully sited wind turbine. Find out more about using wind to generate clean power today by clicking here.
Generally, private power electrical power systems are either stand alone (houses not connected to the power grid) or grid-tied (houses connected to the local power grid).