Using wind as an energy form is not new – but does it suit your site??
Humans have been using wind as power for centuries -  witness the advent of the sailing ship.  And from probably about 7AD, people developed early windmills to draw water from the ground and to mill grain.
Some pioneers of wind energy include the Scot Professor James Blyth who experimented with wind power and took out a UK patent in 1891.  Other experimenters in the US and Denmark continued . Not only was enough energy produced to power a home, but these early scientists laid the foundations of the modern wind turbine. The modern wind turbine industry and wind farms, really can be said to have started in Denmark in the 1970s.

Older style windmills still exist all over the world for good reason – they are reliable and cheap, easy to maintain.  As long as you have enough wind.  When all they are used for is to pump water for animals in remote locations, the consistency of power is not an issue.

People have different motivations for using wind energy, these motivations include concern for the environment, saving money, and fascination with the technology that cuts down the need to use power from a utility company. No matter what your motivation, you need to make sure that wind power is a viable option on your property and that you meet the minimum requirements.

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Wind is not a consistent form of energy.  It can deliver wind power energy  in strong  irregular bursts.  The modern commercial wind turbine allows for connection to a grid,  and battery storage as some of the methods to overcome this. Commercial turbines are generally installed  in groups to take advantage of windy locations, and the energy is chanelled into a grid.

Do you have enough wind? This sounds like a bit of a silly question, but if you do not have enough of a wind resource, you will find it difficult to power your wind energy system. Experts say that you need an average wind speed of 8-14 miles per hour.

If you are not sure how much wind power your site has, it is a good idea to analyze

your wind speed. If you are new to wind power then we would recommend that you contact a wind site assessor who has tools to measure wind generated power and will be able to give you an estimate of how much wind you have access to annually for your system.

Once you have found out whether you have enough wind you need to make sure that you have the land available, because towers and other wind power systems tend to take up a lot of space. You should only really install a wind turbine if you have at least a half acre of land available.  This is not a good solution for a  tiny urban backyard.

According to one distributor of urban turbines- Skystream- the following criteria are important -

• Your property is larger than one-half acre and is unobstructed

• The average wind speed above your house is at least 10 MPH (best results at 12 MPH or more)

• Local zoning laws allows a structure that is at least 42′ tall

• Your electric utility has an existing interconnection agreement (Your Skystream dealer can help determine this).

Noise is a big factor when it comes to wind farming because you need to be considerate of your neighbors – especially if you have elderly people or children living next door. The great thing is, not all wind turbines are noisy. It is therefore important to do your research on the different models and choose a wind turbine which has the lowest rotational speed, because these are the systems which will be the quietest.

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Even in rural areas, the hum of  a group of turbines can cause irritation to neighbours, especially when the wind  directs the noise their way. If you are planning a group of turbines, consultation with the urban planning authority and neighbors is essential.

One of the most important wind power facts that you must take under your belt when thinking about installing a wind power system, is safety. Wind power systems are more dangerous than any other type of renewable energy system and because of this you need to be extra careful when you install wind power.

There are a few legalities that you must take into consideration when installing a wind power system on your property. These include zoning requirements, building permits and electrical permits. Once you have crossed this bridge you are on your way.

There are a number of tax credits and incentives available for people who choose to install renewable energy systems and this includes wind power systems. To find out what incentives are available, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency www.dsireusa.org.

We hope these wind power facts have been helpful and that you have gained some insight about this fascinating renewable energy resource.

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Tags: Renewable energy, Wind power, Wind turbine