Wind Power News

Compact Weather Stations Help Measure the Wind

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:35:00 GMT

Wind is a limited resource. As such, finding areas where one can harvest the most energy from this limited resource is becoming increasingly important in today's power generation market. Proper turbine selection, controls and siting are among the top of the important decisions list.

Lufft Ventus series of compact weather stations.

Two years ago, Lufft provided a solution to your controls application problems, the WS series of compact ultrasonic weather stations. The Ventus model is ideal for wind turbine control applications and other instances where precise measurement of wind speed and direction is required in cold climates. The model includes a 200W heater for use in cold weather climates and covered design with heated roof. Additionally Lufft USA is offering a demonstration unit for a six month trial period to those who are interested.

The WS200-WS600 and Ventus wind sensor models are designed with different levels of functionality to meet specific weather monitoring applications. The WS600 for example, measures temperature, humidity, precipitation, air pressure, wind direction and wind speed. This sensor data can be polled wirelessly through the UMB or Universal Measurement Bus system.

Lufft USA

Cardinal Fastener’s Birdie Chart

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:02:00 GMT

Several years ago, Cardinal Fastener developed a very simple, easy to read one page catalog, known in the industry as the “Birdie Chart™.” The Birdie Chart makes it easy to identify at a glance our manufacturing diameter range, the grades and head styles, as well as a description of the services and other products offered.

One of the reasons Cardinal Fastener is able to manufacture and ship orders in the same day is due to their large inventory of heat-treated bolt blanks. Product is manufactured for inventory all the way through the heat-treating process.

The Birdie Chart™ makes the bolt buyer’s job faster and easier than ever.

Download a copy of the Birdie Chart™ in PDF file format, suitable for printing.

Cardinal Fastener

Shouded Wind Turbines Accelerate Output

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:55:00 GMT

Our objective while developing wind technology is to reduce costs and increase the power output of wind turbines. The principle behind our studies is to use the effect of static wing or sail structures, which convert energy more efficiently, to increase the efficiency of turbines. Many attempts have already been made during the last decades to use external shrouded systems, but with success only in wind tunnel studies, not in ambient air. The reasons become clear from our use of STAR-CD.

Fig. 1 - CFD model of shrouded wind turbine

Based on a patent of the Grumman Corporation, a private company built a prototype at considerable expense, which failed to meet the expected success. CD Adapco's STAR-CD studies of wind turbines with and without shrouds immediately showed the relationship between the force exerted by the flow on the turbine and transfer of both energy and linear momentum. Given a certain force, the energy transfer does not depend on the velocity of the flow, but the momentum transfer does. As a consequence, it is not possible to increase the power of a conventionally shrouded wind turbine beyond the theoretical limit for the same turbine without shroud (the so called Betz limit). With this realization, millions of dollars could have been saved before the prototype stage, with obvious benefits to the project profitability and overall success.

But the success did not stop there. STAR-CD was able to assist in finding a solution. Past shrouded systems closely fitted the propeller to minimize tip-vortex drag. If instead, one leaves a larger space between the propeller tips and the shroud, it has a beneficial effect over a wider radius of the propeller.

Fig 2: Axial wind velocity component. The direction of the vector indicates the direction of the ambient wind

Figure 1 shows one of CD Adapco's wind turbine models, surrounded by a shroud, which is curved like a sail. The surface area of the shroud is about 3 times larger than the area covered by the rotating propeller. Figure 2 shows the velocity in a cross section through the model in the flow direction. Contrary to the conventional system, the air accelerates as it approaches the turbine, and the static shroud plays an active part in the energy extraction of the system, hence the name “partially
static turbine”.

Figure 3 compares the mean total pressure in the flow tube, which passes through the propeller for the bare wind turbine and the shrouded one. The large pressure drop for the shrouded wind turbine could in principle also be achieved in an unshrouded system, but only for small wind velocities. In the shrouded system this large pressure drop occurs while the air is moving through the propeller at a mean axial velocity of 7.2 m/sec (while the ambient wind only has a velocity of 5 m/sec) –

Figure 3: Mean total pressure in the rotor flow tube for bare and for shrouded wind turbine. The rotor flow tube is the flow tube flowing through the area covered by the rotor. The total pressure is shown as a function of x, which is the axis parallel to the ambient wind, the position and the size of the shroud are indicated by the yellow shaded area

in an unshrouded system, or in a shrouded system, which does not interact with an additional flow of air, this situation would constitute a severe violation of energy and momentum conservation.

Figure 4 compares the power of the shrouded wind turbine compared to the unshrouded design. The increase in peak power is a factor of 4.
The same principle can also be applied to water. For a given flow rate, one can significantly reduce size of a Kaplan wind turbine. Or for a given turbine size, one can produce the same power at a lower flow rate. We expect this not only to reduce the price of hydro-power, but it should also open new applications, since the partially static turbine allows for hydro power construction in places where large dams are not feasible.

STAR-CD has taught us a lot about partially static systems. Still more can be learnt in the optimization of shrouded designs and prototype builds.

Figure 4: Power of bare wind turbine and shrouded wind turbine

We are actively searching for partners and collaborators in industry and other research institutes to take these studies to the next stage.

REFERENCES:
Bet F. and Grassmann H., ‘Upgrading conventional wind turbines’, Renewable Energy, January 2003, Elsevier Press, www.elsevier.com/locate/renene

Grassmann H., Bet F., Cabras G. Ceschia M>, Cobai D> and DelPapa C. ‘A partially static turbine – first experimental results’, Renewable Energy, to be published, ElsevierPress, www.elsevier.com/locate/renene

Ganis M., “CFD analysis of the characteristics of a shrouded turbine” www.diplom.de

Weekly intelligence brief: November 02-09

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:54:00 GMT

This week’s news round-up includes: Nexans, Centrica, Cape Wind, Ofgem, the EU's European Investment Bank, Bilfinger Berger, Per Aarsleff, Eneco, AXYS, E.ON, enXco, Linden Wind Project, and an update on the UK's Onshore Wind Turbines Bill.

Electric actuators ready for windpower work

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:40:00 GMT

ElecTrak Pro actuators feature a compact design and short retracted length, coupled with a lightweight and high strength IP66 housing. IP67 protection is an option.

A line of linear actuators are electromechanical devices that install quickly and easily, and provide good accuracy, repeatability, reliability, and advanced control over critical machine operations. Unlike hydraulic and pneumatic alternatives, the ElecTrak Pro Series, from Thomson, a division of Danaher Motion, Wood Dale, Ill, tune quickly and require no ongoing maintenance over the life of the equipment.

The units come in ball-screw configurations with maximum thrust to 2,000 lbs. and acme lead-screw configurations with a thrust rating of 750 lb. When standard models from the line don’t fit, ElecTrak Pro series actuators can be cost-effectively customized and configured. A few possible wind applications include opening and closing f nacelle hatches, and activating locking brakes on turbine rotors. The design is also well suited for use in tough, space restricted vehicles.

A built-in microprocessor provides Electronic Load Monitoring (ELM) to ensure long actuator life and maximum reliability even in harsh conditions. ELM continuously monitors critical parameters and acts as an electronic clutch, stopping the actuator at end of stroke and mid-stroke overload. ELM also provides dynamic braking for consistent, repeatable stops, and holds the load with power off. The microprocessor also includes a Signal Follower feature that can receive a signal from a remote potentiometer, or be used to synchronize multiple actuators.

Control options include programmable limit switches that let users teach and repeat end-of-stroke positions, pulse-width-modulation control for applications requiring variable speed control of the actuator, low-level switching for direct control from a PC or PLC, and end-of-stroke indications. Optional feedback is either a quadrature Hall effect digital output or analog output by a linear potentiometer.

A low-voltage power switching option allows directly connecting the actuator with programmable controllers without the risk of overloading sensitive, low-voltage components. The option also lets low-cost switches control the actuator rather than heavy relays, and permits a smaller wire cross section for the control circuits.

A cover tube and extension tube are both stainless steel for corrosion resistance, and an integral nut support guide increases the allowed static column loading by 20% compared with traditional nut-and-screw designs for a stronger, safer, and more durable machine. Electrical connections are built into the die-cast aluminum housing.

Trail Blazers: How Baze took the lead on offshore wind

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:03:00 GMT

WindEnergyUpdate talks tactics with Baze Technology’s Christian Rambech Dahl, vice president of strategy and markets.

By Tom Evans

Free washer catalog shows 24,000 nonstandard possibilities

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:32:00 GMT

A 2010 Washer Catalog features an increased selection of 24,000 non-standard flat washer and spacer sizes available without tooling charges. The complimentary catalog from Boker’s Inc, Minneapolis, provides easy reference to available washers and spacers, which include ODs from 0.08 to 5.140 in. as well as many IDs and thicknesses. The catalog offers near endless washer and spacer possibilities with immediate access to more than 2,000 commonly specified and difficult-to-find material variations.

Materials listed in Boker's 2010 Washer Catalog include low-carbon sheet steel, various spring steels, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper and nickel silver. Non-metallic options include ABS, acetal, polyester, nylon, MD nylon, polycarbonate, fiber, polyethylene and various phenolics. Tools for non-metallic materials are listed in boldface for easy reference.

The company maintains an ISO 9001:2008 registered status, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in all manufacturing processes. Boker's Inc is a Woman Owned, ISO 9001:2008 registered manufacturer of high quality stampings and non-standard washers and spacers. Request a copy at (800) 927-4377.

Coalition plans 20 MW community wind project

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:08:00 GMT

A developer of community wind, OwnEnergy, has entered a partnership with The National Farmers Union Service Association to develop a 20 MW wind energy project in Minnesota. “The Rothsay Wind Energy project will create local jobs and stimulate economic development in the community,” says OwnEnergy CEO Jacob Susman. “The project, in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, will also provide clean, locally-generated power to about 6,000 homes.” The project will soon enter the Midwest ISO Definitive Planning Phase and use Tier 1 turbines to ensure project financing. The project footprint includes property from six landowners, and will require minimal permitting in addition to the state required PUC permit.

Community wind projects provide farmers with an opportunity to generate a portion of their own electricity, create additional revenue for their family and community, and expand sources of clean, renewable energy for the country.

OwnEnergy, Brooklyn, N.Y., has more than 1,000 MW under development across 14 U.S. states. The company partners with landowners, farmers, and local entities to jointly develop utility-scale wind projects ranging from 10 to 80 MW. The projects help to create local jobs, spur economic growth and provide communities with clean, renewable sources of energy that they can call their own.

Future looks good for wind-turbine controls

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:57:00 GMT

The ARC Advisory Group forecasts the business for wind turbine controls to increase at this rate.

The market for wind-turbine controls is positioned to grow over the next several years due to the volatility in oil costs, a worldwide push for clean energy, favorable government incentives, and available investments funding for this area in the world financial community, according to a recent study from the ARC Advisory Group study, Dedham, Mass. Asia’s demand for energy and growing pressure to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions is driving demand of renewable sources of energy such as wind power.

“Wind power is one of the key renewable energy sources that will make a significant contribution towards the goals of future energy models of every major country around the world,” says ARC Senior Analyst Himanshu Shah, (hshah@arcweb.com) the principal author of “Wind Turbine Control Systems Worldwide Outlook”.

The study covers wind turbine control systems which comprises five systems: Main controls, condition monitoring, power conversion, and pitch and yaw. Demand for wind turbine controls directly correlates to demand for wind-turbine manufacturing and wind power generation.

Global windpower installations will struggle throughout 2009. However suppliers are expecting a strong rebound after 2010. The report summary says that strategic decisions made now will have far reaching implications on suppliers of wind-turbine controls as recovery continues beyond 2010 with continuing push to add wind-power generation capacity. Intense market share competition will result in an increasing global competition and shift market power to buyers.

These suppliers benefit, says the report, from an increasing demand for wind turbines worldwide and by recognizing areas of opportunities where performance can be improved. The report also discusses market issues faced by suppliers of wind turbine controls as well as their strategies.

Emerging economies in Brazil, Russia, India and China are increasing pressure on the demand for energy resources. The worldwide market for wind power will continue to grow during the next five years due to substantial worldwide governmental incentives for renewable energy investments and new stimulus money in various countries as the push for alternative energy continues.

While the market in Europe drives steadily forward, a major surge of activity is occurring on a global level. Specifically, the U.S., India, and China have moved forward at a rapid pace in expanding wind power capacity. Asia and the U.S. have witnessed exploding activities in wind power generation in the past couple of years. European suppliers for wind-turbine controls have been the primary beneficiaries of these activities.

In addition to the quantitative assessment of the wind turbine control systems market, the report provides an analysis of market and technology trends, and strategies of suppliers that will impact this business in the future. A brief description regarding the regional scenarios for each major world area is also covered in this report.

What Growth Will be Seen in Wind Turbine Control Systems?

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:58:00 GMT

The Wind Turbine Control systems market is well positioned to experience extraordinary growth for the next several years due to the volatility in oil cost, worldwide push for clean energy, favorable government incentives, and available investments funding for this area in the world financial community, according to a new ARC Advisory Group study.

Asia’s strong demand for energy and growing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is driving demand of renewable sources of energy such as wind power. “Wind power is one of the key renewable energy sources that will make a significant contribution towards the goals of future energy models of every major country around the world. Wind power is now an important part of the global energy picture which is driving substantial growth in the business,” according to Senior Analyst Himanshu Shah (hshah@arcweb.com), the principal author of ARC’s “Wind Turbine Control Systems Worldwide Outlook” (www.arcweb.com/res/windturbine).

Clean Energy Demand Will Drive Phenomenal Growth for Wind Turbine Control Systems Globally

This study covers wind turbine control systems which comprises five major types of sub-systems based on its functionality: Main Control System, Condition Monitoring System, Power Converter System, Pitch Control System, and Yaw Control System. Demand for wind turbine control systems is directly correlated to the demand for wind turbine manufacturing and wind power generation.

Global wind power installations will struggle throughout 2009, however suppliers are expecting a strong rebound after 2010. Strategic decisions made now will have far reaching implications on wind turbine control system suppliers as recovery continues beyond 2010 with continuing push to add wind power generation capacity. Intense market share competition will result in an increasing global competition and shift market power to the buyers.

Wind turbine control system suppliers are benefiting from an increasing demand for wind turbines worldwide and recognizing various areas of opportunities where performance can be improved. The report also discusses what market issues are faced by wind turbine control systems suppliers as well as suppliers’ strategies.

Regional Scenario

The world’s appetite for energy is growing faster than additional sources of fuel can be found. Emerging economies in Brazil, Russia, India and China are increasing pressure on the demand for energy resources. The worldwide market for wind power will continue to grow during the next five years due to substantial worldwide governmental incentives for renewable energy investments and new stimulus money in various countries as the push for alternative energy continues.

While the market continues a steady drive forward within Europe, a major surge of activity is occurring on a global level. Specifically, the US, India, and China have moved forward at a rapid pace in expanding wind power capacity. Asia and the US have witnessed exploding activities in wind power generation in the past couple of years. European wind turbine control suppliers have been the primary beneficiaries of these activities.

In addition to the quantitative assessment of the wind turbine control systems market, the report provides an insightful analysis of the market trends, technology trends, and strategies of suppliers that will impact this business in the future. A brief description regarding the regional scenarios for each major world area is also covered in this report.

Over 15,000 electrical products in stock

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:49:00 GMT

Remke Energy boasts of over 15,000 electrical products in stock to help developers, builders, and owners of wind farms deliver power to the electrical grid. The company offers a diverse selection of electrical connectivity and wire & cable management devices. Here’s where the diverse product offerings for wind turbines work: In the nacelle, electrical components are needed to support the mechanical train, power generation, and pitch and yaw controls. In the tower, cable support comes from Wire Mesh Support & Strain Relief Grips. And the substation needs power or grounding connectors and wire management products. All are in-stock at an online warehouse – elecDirect.com – along with services and technical support.

National labs and OEMs have lots of ideas, suggestions for suppliers

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:48:00 GMT

The recent Wind Power Explained conference, presented at the Design and Manufacture Expo in Chicago, presented a full day of discussions to attendees on topics from the Department of Energy, NREL, Sandia Labs, GE Energy, Northern Wind, and Clipper Windpower. Here’s a sampling:

The presentation by Ron L. Harris included this list of DOE success metrics.

“The DOE recognizes the challenge in making wind energy a reliable and integrated source,” said Ron L. Harris, from the agency’s Office of Energy Efficiency. Harris told how the DOE wants to ensure that the supply chain for wind technology is sufficient to increase market demand and consistent with a goal of supplying 20% of the U.S. electricity needs by 2030. “The agency also wants to maximize opportunities for domestic manufactures of wind-energy equipment by facilitating supply chain development.” In the Q&A session, Harris mentioned that developers of small wind turbines should submit ideas and products to the U.S. Army because when deployed in remote regions, they would like to take power sources other than gas-powered generators, and small turbines might work well.

Sandy Butterfield, Chief Engineer, National Wind Technology Center, discussed his experience with gearboxes. “They were a source of reliability problems and maintenance costs in early designs,” he said. “Fatigue loads were the driving loads. Since then, development of standards, such as IEC 61400-22 have helped improve their design so they are more reliable. Focus now is shifted to bearings.” Regarding turbine size, Butterfield points to the problems of shipping, such as bridges too low for large turbine blades and nacelles, that will keep land based turbines to about the maximum where they are now. “Off shore, however, the designs would have no restrictions so turbines could grow to 10 MW and larger,” he said.

From Sandy Butterfield's presentation

Paul Veers, Technical Staff, Wind Energy Technology Department, Sandia National Labs, discussed how to get more power out of the wind. An early wind engineer Albert Betz observed that about 59% was a theoretical maximum. Recent designs have gotten bigger and taller. But a larger rotor increases in cost with the cube of the length increase, and taller towers cost go up with height to the fourth power. “Hence, the only way to win this cost battle is to build rotors that are smarter and components that are lighter,” said Veers. Then he showed several ideas for doing so.

Lawrence D. Willey, GE Infrastructure, Wind, said the U.S. is likely to see a doubling of energy needs by 2030. Good news is that wind is now cost-competitive with other fuels. “The company has developed software for engineers to guide their design work with regard to cost. The software includes influence coefficients that determine costs.

What’s more, engineers have lots of ideas, and a value analysis is one way to weigh them. “It’s a way to tell we are working on the right thing for customers and ourselves,” he says.

The beginning is the sweet spot and when to put in all the options. “You can’t start early enough when it comes to designing to cost,” he added. Even for subcomponents, this makes sense. Money spent at a project’s start is money spent wisely. When manufacturing begins, its too late for cost savings.

Taylor Robinson, VP of Global Supply Chain for Northern Power Systems, discussed how the design of company turbines makes for an efficient supply chain. “We want a supply chain close to the company and working quickly. The concepts here go back to six sigma and lean.”

“Quality will be essential from suppliers, and they must deliver on time and at the agreed cost,” he said. Components for his firm’s 100 kW turbine come from Europe and U.S. suppliers. One turbine a day is their production target. “Another goal is to get suppliers delivering more complete subsystems rather than a few components. With the right partner, it is possible to have more control over a design from a supplier than if the component were made in your own factory,” he said. Robinson added that he will work on long-term agreements with suppliers, but the arrangements have to be win-win agreements.

Derek Ptech, Director of Engineering for the 2.5 MW turbines at Clipper Windpower, said value analyses come from designing to cost. One trend in the industry is certifying the technology by third parties, such as Germanischer Lloyd.

One industry driver is that energy consumption will be up by 50% in 2020 along with a population growth of 20%. “The more steady feed-in laws in Europe have resulted in steady growth there. Likewise, because Texas has an RES, it has a greater install capacity than other states, so a national RES would be a boost to the entire industry.”

Ptech added that increased reliability is one governing ideal for the company turbines because some components have no backup. “For instance, pitch mechanisms in the hub for each blade work independent of each other and so have batteries to run them in case conditions take the turbine off grid. Dramatic events define design conditions,” he said. Another example is that the Clipper has four generators so that one, two, or three of them can be removed and the turbine still produces power.

Weekly intelligence brief: October 26 - November 02

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:58:00 GMT

This week's news roundup includes: Centrica, Vestas, Sinovel, AES, SeaEnergy, TGC, E.ON, Lloyds, BNP Paribus, SaskPower, Nordex and Wind Capital Group.

Concept Bridge could Generate Electricity from Moving Cars

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:12:00 GMT

When people thought about telephones in underdeveloped countries it was like they would have to invest a huge sum in infrastructure in the form of poles, wires and equipments. No one imagined about cell phones at that time. They transcend most of the infrastructures. In this hour of impending depletion of fossil fuels we [...]
Posted in: Future Energy, Transportation, Wind Power

US wind project finance: The waiting game

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:48:00 GMT

WindEnergyUpdate talks to Chip Carstensen, senior director for energy and wind at Nord/LB New York, about the future of project financing for the US wind energy sector.

By Rikki Stancich

Weekly intelligence brief: October 19-26

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:40:00 GMT

This week’s news round-up features Siemens, EDF Energy Renewables, Longpark, Scottish Power Renewables, Dong Energy, Garrad Hassan, Vestas and QinetiQ.

Advanced Offshore Solutions: Breakaway ideas for offshore wind

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:32:00 GMT

WindEnergyUpdate talks to Advanced Offshore Solutions CEO, Kurt Thomsen, about innovations in offshore turbine installation and avoiding the pitfalls of false economies.

By Rikki Stancich

Weekly intelligence brief: October 12-19

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:39:00 GMT

State-backing and major investments continue to propel the development of US’ wind energy sector

350.org international day of climate action this 24 October 2009

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:13:00 GMT

350.org are organising numerous actions across the globe this coming Saturday 24th of October 2009, you can see a full map below of where you can find them.

For those of you unaware, 350.org is trying to raise public awareness of the science of climate change, and prompting open public debate about our CO2 emissions - specifically returning from our rapidly increasing 390+ ppm of CO2 to 350ppm to avoid the serious impact of climate change. The key message here is that we have already passed the safe limit, and we need to get back - not argue about how much further we can go.

Key to returning CO2 levels to 350ppm is the future energy sources we use as a planet, a significant part of this mix will be wind energy - the most cost-effective and globally accessible source of renewable energy we have at the moment. It's a great message, and well worth getting out and showing your local support!

View Actions at 350.org

Offshore wind turbine technology: Harnessing the Saudi Arabia of wind

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:30:00 GMT

The potential to harness 149,000 megawatts of energy within 50 nautical miles of Maine’s coastline has earned the Gulf of Maine the moniker ‘The Saudi Arabia of wind'

Wind energy weekly intelligence brief: October 06-12

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:08:00 GMT

UNC, Duke Energy to develop coastal wind pilot project

National Grid discusses wind connection management

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:17:00 GMT

Duncan Burt, Customers services manager at National Grid, explains how the Grid is working with Government and industry to improve wind connection

Reader Review: DIY Residential Wind Turbine

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:39:00 GMT

I got an email yesterday from one of our readers at residential wind power called Mike. Mike saw our review of the wind turbine plans a few weeks back and wanted to give the plans a go. He bought the plans and has since finished his vertical wind turbine following the wind turbine plans in the guide we recommended. Here is what mike had to say:

Hi Barry,

First off I want to let you know that I have been a long time reader of your site residential wind power. I stumbled across your site a few years back when I was looking at installing a wind turbine and regularly come back to see what is going on with wind turbines.

I have wanted to build my own wind turbine for a long time now but I have never got the courage up to do it. I am not very experienced with tools or anything like that I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t be able to complete the project. After reading your review of the best wind turbine plans I thought I might as well just jump in and have a go, after all what have I got to lose?

I went ahead and purchased the wind turbine plans that you recommended here and all of the information was sent to me instantly. The kit came with guides on how to build a wind turbine which I am most interested in and also a few guides on how to build solar panels. Although I am not into solar panels that much I might give building one a go seen as though I got the plans bundled in with the kit!

The kit was awesome it even come with videos and very detailed diagrams on what to put where so it made it very easy for a DIY novice like me. For $49 the kit was an absolute bargain!

I went down to the hardware store to source the materials that I needed to construct the wind turbine and was pretty happy as it only came to $97 at the hard ware store. So far so good.

When I got back from the hardware store I went about building the wind generator in the guide and it just came together so easy. In the end it took me 5 hours to build the wind turbine from scratch when I followed the plan and now I have a home wind turbine for under $150 that is probably worth ten times as much!

I got an electrician to wire it in to the house so that I could push the energy generated from the wind turbine back onto the grid. This took him about 1.5 hours. The wind turbine is putting out some great power in low winds which is great as my home is in a fairly low wind area.

I am so stoked that I went ahead and bought the plans as I now can sit back and watch my homemade wind turbine generate clean renewable energy for my home. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction Barry. I have included a picture of my wind turbine for you.

Take it easy,

Mike Doolan

As you can see from Mikes review building a DIY wind turbine is easy and it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to do it. This is the wind turbine review Mike was talking about and this is the wind turbine plan that mike purchased.

If any other readers have had similar success with their wind turbines we would love to hear about it.

How To Save Energy In Your Home – Part 1 – Heating

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:09:00 GMT

We are always touting the benefits of renewable energy and how a residential wind turbine can save you thousands of dollars in energy bills. Recently I was talking about my home wind turbine and the home wind turbine kit that I purchased in 2007 which has allowed me to power my entire home for free. Sure it is great to be able to help the environment and produce your own renewable energy from a home wind turbine but before you go and install your wind turbine you should look at your current energy consumption around the house.

Energy consumption around the home can be reduced in a number of areas including lighting, heating water, cooling air, heating air and in the kitchen. The things that we can do to save energy in each of these areas all help to bring the total energy consumption of your home down which is great news even if you aren’t going to install a home wind turbine.

The first part of our four part series on reducing home energy consumption is on heating your home. Heating your home can be expensive. In fact, up to half of the total annual energy bill in many homes may be attributed to heating. That’s why we’ve come up with these ideas to help you keep your costs down and to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.

If you’re heating a large space, a gas heater or reverse cycle air conditioner will generally be the more efficient method.
Space heaters are usually more energy efficient than central heating as you are only heating one room, not the whole house.
Check an appliance’s star rating before you purchase it. Better energy efficiency means it will cost you less to run the appliance.
You can loose up to 70% of heat through ceilings and walls, up to 20% through windows, and up to 10% through elevated floors.
The optimum temperature inside a home is between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius. Every degree above this level can increase your heating bill by up to 15%.
Use ceiling fans to help push down the heat that has risen to the ceiling to keep the room at optimum temperature.
Open curtains to north-facing windows on sunny days to invite free heat into your home.

These tips alone can dramatically reduce your energy consumption which means there will be even less to pay the utility company at the end of the month. Once you get your heating sorted out you can then look at building your own wind turbine like I have done and pay absolutely nothing to power your home. I have been living off the grid since 2007 – I am connected to the grid however I draw none of my power from the grid, it all comes from the wind. Any excess energy gets sold back to the energy company and I get paid at the end of the month for my contribution.

My suggestion to you is to follow our energy saving tips and build your own wind turbine so that you pay absolutely nothing for your electricity.

Why I Haven’t Paid For Electricity Since 2007

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:02:00 GMT

One of the most fulfilling aspects of my life is knowing that when I go to turn on my computer or watch some television it doesn’t cost me a dime! I have not paid an electricity bill since 2007, that is not because I am on the run and refuse to pay my utility bills [...]

Home Wind Turbines That Are Super Cheap and Really Easy to Build

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:14:00 GMT

Recently there has been a wealth of information flooding the web in regards to the benefits of wind energy and solar power and how we should all be looking at ways to cut our own energy bills and look for green energy alternatives at home. It would appear that a lot of us every day are [...]

Wind Energy Stocks – The Best 3 Wind Energy Stocks to Buy

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:56:00 GMT

For one reason or another not everybody can install their own wind turbine and produce their own clean renewable energy. Some people don’t own their own home and are simply not able to install a wind turbine. Other people may have a wind turbine, and have some extra cash in which they wish to invest [...]

Why Wind Power is Better Than Solar Power – We Compare Wind Power and Solar Power

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 09:53:00 GMT

So you want to install some renewable energy for your home and have come to the crossroad as to which is better, residential wind power or residential solar power. Both wind power and solar power have been around for a long time now and both renewable energy source have successfully been used to produce clean electricity for home and commercial users – but which renewable energy source is the best?

In our mind there is no competition! Wind power is the superior renewable energy source for residential users and this comes down to a number of reasons. The reasons why we believe that residential wind power is better than solar power are a mix of personal reasons and scientific reasons along with the ultimate reason: the cost of a vertical wind turbine.

Reasons why a residential vertical wind turbine is better than a solar power system:

Wind power technology has its origins that trace back to Persia as early as 200 B.C. Wind power has been around a lot longer than solar power and as such the technology has had a greater deal of time to be refined to a point that it is more reliable than solar power.

Many locations around the world do not have full sunlight days which is a vital ingredient to the success of a solar panel installation. On top of this the sun is only out for half of the day in most places around the world – in some places the sun does not even shine during the day – this leads to no solar power! On the flip side a wind turbine can produce energy all day every day if there is a supply of wind.

Cost – Yes you knew it had to come up eventually! Solar power technology costs a lot more than wind power – there I said it! Phew. In a study conducted by Ontario, Canada based company, Detronics Limited, one wind turbine and one solar array were set up and tested over the course of one year. Over that time span wind proved to be more cost effective than solar power. The total kWh produced by each system were recorded and then divided into the total cost of purchasing and running each system. During this year long study, wind power proved to cost just over $3.00 less per kWh produced.

These two installations were purchased from reputable renewable energy dealers and as shown above wind power won the contest but what if you could get your wind turbine for under $200?

This is where it gets really interesting! We have been building wind turbines off the plan for the last few years following this wind power plan with the total cost for each wind turbine coming in at under $200 USD. Now let’s take a minute to put that in perspective here. The average American family spends $1900 each year on their energy bills – this is nearly ten times the amount that is would cost to buy some wind turbine plans and build your own wind turbine for under $200. Talk about getting a bang for your buck!

Can you do this with solar power? No you can’t. But you can build your own vertical wind turbine to power your home for under $200 and the whole process couldn’t be easier. Get on over to our review of the best wind turbine plans and see why we think that residential wind power is a far better product than residential solar power.

GE to Manufacture Offshore Wind Turbines

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:28:00 GMT

GE, the US industrial group, is promoting and showing confidence in offshore wind technology by buying ScanWind, which makes direct-drive turbine components. This move will help in generating thousands of new jobs in the field of designing and manufacturing turbines. This move will affirm the confidence of investors in the fledgling offshore wind industry, [...]
Posted in: Wind Farms, Wind Power, Wind Turbines

Save Money on Electricity by Building Your Own Wind Turbine

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:01:00 GMT

Who doesn’t want to save money and more importantly who doesn’t want to save money on electricity? Let’s face it – we have become reliant upon electricity to the point that we need it to work, live and play. Can you think of your life without electricity? How would it change? Most people would find that they can’t live without a reliable source of electricity – this is why we need to save money on electricity.

There are many ways that you can save money on electricity which we have gone into detail about previously and include:

Switch to low power lighting such as LED lamps and Compact Fluorescent lamps
Use clothing to keep warm in winter instead of turning on your electric heater – heating is one of the most energy draining uses in the average household
Install a solar hot water system – Many governments offer rebates and incentives to install solar hot water systems

The list can go on and on about how you can save money on electricity around the house. Let’s change our school of thought and think about where the electricity comes from. The majority of your electricity comes from the grid and is produced by coal and nuclear power plants. This power is then sold to you the consumer via the utility company leaving you at ransom to the rate per kWh they want to charge you to access the power. The answer to getting around this cost is to install your own renewable energy such as a residential wind turbine.

Wind turbines have been around for centuries and have been used to pump water through to powering boats however the most rapidly growing trend in wind turbines is to install them at home to power your house. Buying a wind turbine can be expensive – in most cases you will be looking at around $12,000 USD before government rebates to buy and install a vertical wind turbine. For this very reason we suggest that you build your own wind turbine using proven wind turbine plans.

Many of our readers have followed our suggestion and grabbed themselves these wind turbine plans and have built themselves a vertical wind turbine to power their own home. These wind turbines can be built for as little as $200 and can produce around $4000 USD worth of electricity each and every year. We have had many comments from our readers that this wind turbine kit produced enough electricity for their home and the excess electricity was put back onto the grid which meant that they get a check from the utility company at the end of the month. That’s right – they were actually given money by the energy company because they sold them the excess electricity that they didn’t use!

You can save money in a number of ways however saving money by installing a home wind turbine could actually make you some money and will benefit the environment at the same time. We suggest that you look at our review of the best wind turbine plans and start your project building your own wind turbine and saving money on your electricity bill.