Wind Powered Generators

 

Wind Powered Generators

As renewable energy sources progress and help modernize our current ecological needs, wind is emerging as one of the most common sources of renewable energy. Wind powered generators can account for as many as 500 homes worth of energy per year for each individual turbine used. So how do they work and how can they be capitalized on as a source of clean, renewable energy?

The most interesting thing about wind powered generators is that they are the oldest form of renewable energy generators in the history of mankind. Early wind turbines have been used to harvest and refine grain since as early as 200 B.C. in Persia. The energy of wind was used to turn massive turbines so the friction and kinetic energy could be refined and utilized to crush and refine grains and flour in the processing of bread. Since then, this ancient practice has been modernized to develop not only friction and kinetic energy to process grain but also electrical energy to power homes and businesses.

So how does a wind power generator work? It’s simple. A wind power generator is essentially a giant fan that absorbs the impact of the wind and turns a massive generator. The heat of the friction in the generator is then converted into electrical energy as the gears spin from the result of the wind, producing a stable source of electricity.

There are essentially two different kinds of wind powered generators. One is a horizontal axis and the other is a vertical axis. There is some scientific debate as to which one is more effective, but the mechanical difference can be summed quickly. A horizontal axis is likely the ones you see advertised on television when talking about renewable energy sources. The axis on which the blades spin lies parallel to the ground, hence the term horizontal axis. Horizontal axis turbines are very effective at gathering energy from high winds and are more efficient than vertical axis as they are always moving with the wind direction.

The vertical axis wind powered generators are the second type of wind powered generators. These function by having an axis built upright and perpendicular from the ground. Vertical axis wind turbines look essentially like a large rotating wall and are very difficult to describe without actually seeing one. They gather energy with the same essential friction manipulation of horizontal axis, the main difference being that they are built lower to the ground, create less noise and can be used from any direction. However, this does come with a few disadvantages, namely that these wind generators are less efficient since the wind will often push one side of the generator forward while the other side rotates into the wind, creating unwanted friction and slowdown. And since they are lower to the ground, they do not have access to as fast winds as vertical axis wind turbines.

The world has yet to build a manageable system to truly capitalize on the constant supply of wind available in many areas. Wind Powered Generators are a growing way of progressing the world towards energy that is safer and more constant than coal or oil. With more efficient technology being driven by demand in this field being created every day, it’s only a matter of time before this becomes a primary energy source in many countries around the world.

Residential Wind Turbines

Residential Wind Turbines

Another alternative for home owners interested in lowering their energy costs with renewable energy is residential wind turbines. These offer a reliable, low cost electricity source that can lower you power bills by anywhere form 50-90 percent! It’s not uncommon to see homes with a wind turbine that have an energy bill as low as 10 dollars per month, especially in areas with high wind and mild climates that have little use for air conditioning.

So what’s the cost and ROI breakdown of a residential wind turbine? Typically a wind turbine requires some sort of professional installation in order to be attached to your home, although smaller wind turbines can be self installed by the customer. After all is said and done, a residential wind turbine will usually end up costing anywhere from 2 or 3 thousand dollars to 10 thousand dollars per unit. This may sound far-fetched for the average home owner, but the truth is a single wind turbine can generate enough electricity to power more than half your home’s electrical systems throughout much of the year. How would it feel to have that energy bill reduced from 50 dollars a month to 25 or less?

That could easily pay for itself within a couple of short years, not to mention the amount of money you would save on tax rebates and incentives offered by the government for installing such a system. On top of that, a residential wind turbine would give you an alternative source of energy outside of the power company to keep your home going even in the event of a power outage. It may not seem like much, but being able to use the internet and the telephone when a power outage occurs can be beneficial on many levels ranging from a simple convenience to a life saver when there happens to be an emergency!

So is it worthwhile to get a residential wind turbine installed in your home? This would be a question best directed to a professional installer who is most familiar with the performance of the technology. If you live in an area that has high winds such as southern California or Texas, there is a good chance you will realize a significant return on investment with a residential wind turbine. This is even more true with areas in which there is a mild climate and little use for air conditioning or heating. Extreme climates may be require more energy than a single turbine is capable of covering, but regardless of the situation, it will help reduce costs dramatically over the long term.