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Could wind energy make all other renewable energy resources obsolete?

This is pretty unlikely. While wind stands to play a very large role in the future of electricity production, solar power stands to contribute a great deal as well. It's source, the sun, has seemingly infinite amounts of power. Other resources include geothermal and biomass resources. Biomass refers to plant matter that can be burned to generate steam to create electricity. Biomass uses the heat from the earth. Hydropower is still an enormous resource, using the movement of water to generate electricity. All of these resources combined need to be studied and implemented to reduce the demand on our natural resource supplies like oil and coal that are continually diminishing.

How do I install one?

You can either have it installed or you can install it yourself. With the company installation, you'll likely get quite a bit of support from the manufacturer. With a self-install, you'll learn everything you need to know about running your small wind turbine, maintaining it, and keeping it running. Obviously to have it installed, you'll be paying a lot more money than if you install it yourself.

How do they work?

For residential use, the homeowner will use a dual system, using energy from the wind turbine, and supplementing with local energy from the power company. This is necessary for the times when there is not enough speed in the wind to generate adequate power for your needs inside your home. In this way, you can supplement from the power company when there isn't enough wind, and when you produce excess power, your “net meter” will reflect that the power company owes you money or an energy credit. In this type of a system there are no batteries that need to be hooked up.

If you are in a very remote location and will be using only wind energy, you will need a battery assembly so that it can store any excess energy for times when the wind isn't producing enough for your needs. This is known as an “off-grid” installation. It means that you will not be hooked up to any lines to a centralized power company.

How much will I save?

While this certainly depends on the wind speeds over time at your site, most households are reporting anywhere from 50% to 90% savings on their monthly electric bills. There are some owners who have electric bills of less than $15 a month for nine months out of the year.

How much will it cost?

The average system will cost about $40,000 to install. A general rule of thumb is that you will pay between $3,000 and $6,000 per kilowatt of energy generating capacity. This is less expensive than a solar photovoltaic system, but still puts a big dent in the pocketbook. The payback time can take anywhere from 6 – 30 years. Many states understand this problem, which is why there are rebates that are available for residents who install a small wind turbine. Considering that they will last about 30 years or more, this is a pretty good investment in our world's future. The federal government has made an upfront tax credit available through December 31, 2016 for anyone who installs a small wind system.

How reliable is this technology?

Small wind turbines are considered to be very reliable. They have only two or three moving parts and have lifespans that exceed 30 years with appropriate maintenance. This is a very simple and reliable system for producing energy.

How tall should the tower be?

Most towers are in the 80 to 120 foot range. They need to be this tall to avoid the turbulence caused by trees, buildings, and terrain on the ground. Wind speeds increase as you go up, and the energy that is produced increases exponentially. The taller the tower you can erect, the more power you will generate. Always be aware of any height restrictions in your area. A rule of thumb is that the bottom of the turbine's blades needs to be 30 feet higher than any tree or building within 500 feet of your tower.

How will a small wind turbine help the environment?

Using energy from small wind turbines helps the environment in a number of ways. The most obvious is that each house the erects and uses the energy harvested from the wind is one more household that is not using the average 750 kilowatt hours of electricity per month. That would be a tremendous savings. It is estimated that if we were to tap into the windiest locations in the world, theoretically we could generate 13 times more electricity than is currently being produced worldwide. This is a year-round resource, and ultimately could produce enough energy to satisfy 100% of the energy needs of this country. Wind energy produces no pollution of any kind. It emits no greenhouse gases. The more people who incorporate wind energy into their households, the more they will reduce the pollution and greenhouse gases that are currently being generated by their electric company. Over its lifespan, a single wind turbine can reduce greenhouse gases by 200 tons.

I don't understand the technology. Isn't it too advanced for a regular person?

Unless you're going to actually build the components of our wind turbine from scratch, no don't have to be very technologically advanced. A few hard-core wind energy people out there have done this, but there are enough manufacturers out there that all you have to do is order your assembly and erect it. The wind turbine is simpler than a diesel engine. It requires very little attention and maintenance. Some will run for as long as five years without any attention at all.

Is a low speed turbine a better option?

Not necessarily. Low-speed wind turbines have recently come onto the market, but there is no distinct advantage to them. Because energy is available at a cube of its speed, there is not much energy to be extracted at wind speeds much less than 9 miles per hour.

Problems: Do they make noise? Interfere with TV reception? Kill birds? Towers fall? Power outage safety? Ice throw? Children? Still days?

Because people are not really educated about small wind turbines, they express concern about using it as an energy resource. Here are the most common concerns:

-> Does it make noise? Most small turbines make noise, but generally no more than your clothes washer.
-> Will it interfere with my television reception? No, there is absolutely no interference.
-> I've herd that wind turbines kill birds. Most bird kills occur on the very large energy farms, and still that number is very, very small. It is estimated that fewer than 0.03% of all birds die as a result of a wind turbine. Did you know that cats kill over one billion birds a year? Word to the wise, get a wind turbine, keep your cat indoors and the bird population will thrive.
-> I've heard of the towers falling. A tree is more likely to fall on your property than a wind turbine tower. Thousands of wind turbine towers are erected across the country and their safety record is outstanding.
-> What if a power technician is working on a line and the wind comes up? In the event of a power outage, your small wind turbine will also shut down, making it impossible to energize a dead power line.
-> Can a wind turbine throw ice that has formed on its blades? When there is ice buildup, the turbine's blades spin very slowly, and gravity still works in this case. Any ice buildup will fall to the base of the tower.
-> What about children climbing the tower? This is a risk with anything climbable. As with a hot tub, swimming pool, radio tower, or very climbable tree, you need to keep children from accessing these features.
-> Will power be generated on a still day? That is the biggest drawback to wind power. There are days when there is no wind, and your turbine will generate no power. You either need to be hooked up to the grid, or have battery backup.

What are the advantages over generators?

The most obvious answer is that wind energy is infinitely sustainable, and infinitely renewable. Small wind assemblies can be more cost effective, and once established requires very little maintenance, and no need for any fossil fuel to run.

What else do I need to know?

You will likely need to obtain a local building permit. In some cases you may need to get a variance. Know the benefits of small wind energy and then go talk to your neighbors. Sometimes it is merely a matter of educating them about the technology and what it will do for the environment to get them to agree to the variance.

Federal regulations require your local electric utility to allow you to hook your wind generator to their system.

In most cases, you will not have to change any of the wiring in your home in order to hook up a wind generator. You will probably receive a second meter from your electric company that will record how much surplus energy it is receiving from you.

What is a small wind turbine?

A small wind turbine is similar to the windmills you may be familiar with. The difference is that a windmill drives some kind of mechanical load like a water pump, while a wind turbine drives an electrical generator.

It collects energy from the wind by slowing the air down then transferring it into a spinning shaft which turns a generator and produces electricity that you can use in your home.

What size do I need? Do I need more than one?

The average home uses about 9,000 to 10,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year. This amount can vary considerably depending on what other steps homeowners have taken to reduce their energy consumption. Most people would be looking at a wind turbine that generates 5 – 10 kilowatts. It is always better to buy a unit large enough to supply most of your electrical demands rather than purchasing and erecting two wind turbines. This is not an economical choice. Two systems would double the initial expense, the installation expense, and the maintenance expenses. Talk to your dealer and choose a single turbine that best suits your needs.

Who is an ideal candidate for a small wind turbine?

Anyone who has at least one acre of property and is not constrained by any local zoning ordinances could erect a small wind turbine. You can find out what your average wind speed is. You'll want to see an average speed of 10 mph. You'll also want to see that the price you pay per kilowatt hour of electricity exceeds 10 cents. There are some states that offer significant incentive programs for people who erect a small wind turbine. This could be a determining factor for deciding if this is the right choice for you.

Will my property value fall?

On the contrary, because more and more people have become so conscious of the environment, having small wind turbines in the neighborhood actually raises property values. Most people are actually willing to pay more for homes that have a wind turbine on them.