Posts Tagged ‘Wind Turbines’

Wind Energy Research

Sunday, September 27th, 2009
EcoCompanyTV asked:


Brendan travels to the University of California at Davis to visit a wind energy lab. There researchers and students work to improve the efficiency of wind turbines. They study how wind travels over the blades in a high speed wind tunnel!

Who Else Wants To Know About Alternative Energy

Monday, May 25th, 2009
green energy
Madison Greene asked:


It is estimated that our natural resources will be completely depleted within the next 150 years. It is because of this that we as a society need to be actively searching for sources of alternative energy.

Alternative energy, whether it is used to replace fuels such as coal, or to reduce our reliance on petroleum based fuels; alternative energy is one of the most important issues facing society today.

The two most common types of alternative energy are:

* Wind power

* Solar power

Both of these alternative energy sources are harnessed from natural resources, and as such are completely free. Only the equipment and technology cost money, and over time as we advance the costs should be reduced.

It is these free sources of alternative energy that we should be pursuing with the most fervency, so that, eventually, energy can be available to all regardless of income. Below we will take a look at these two most common sources of alternative energy.

Wind Power

Wind power, while a free source of alternative energy, would be the most costly type of renewable energy to power our nation. This is largely in part to the fact that we must first place wind turbines across the country, in enough numbers to provide electricity to communities nationwide, even in areas where the wind velocity is not as strong. The cost of building enough of these turbines to harness the wind’s alternative energy would be staggering.

Also these wind turbines are very unsightly and would ruin very beautiful and scenic parts of the country. It should also be noted that they only produce power 1/8 of the time that they are running. That is not very efficient, but we are on the right track, things just need improvement.

Another problem I see with wind turbines is the amount of profit many companies stand to make for putting them in. Individuals are making millions off of this and that is just not right when our well-being is at stake.

However, if you’re interested in using wind power as your own source of alternative energy, it is a viable option. Many farms and rural communities use these wind turbines to power themselves. In smaller numbers, the cost of building the turbines pays for itself relatively quickly. But wind energy is only one form of alternative energy. Next, we will look at using solar power as an alternative power source.

Solar Power

Solar power is alternative energy derived from the power of the sun. Solar energy is also completely free, except for the cost of installing the equipment necessary to convert the sun’s rays into usable electricity. This equipment is becoming less and less expensive every day. Solar power generally ends up paying for itself within the first few years.

The equipment needed to use solar power as an alternative energy source for your home can be bought at virtually any home improvement store, and can usually be installed in just a few hours. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself, there are a great number of contractors available who can install your solar panels and generators for you.

Regardless of which type of alternative energy you choose to use in your own home, the fact remains that we must find a renewable source of energy soon, or be at risk of losing the few natural resources we have left to burn. Contact your Congressman today, and ask what is being done to find a good source of alternative energy; and what you can do to help.



Wind Power

Sunday, March 29th, 2009
wind power
David Tanguay asked:


With the way the energy crisis is growing, soon the fossil fuels that we rely on will be gone or so overpriced, that very few people will be able to afford it. Researchers have been creating new and innovating ways to create energy out of the natural resources that Mother Nature provides. Even though the wind has been a source of power for hundreds of years, it is not until recent decades that it was considered on a large scale.



There are many different types of natural resources that researchers have found promising, however, wind power is the most promising and least expensive renewable power source. There is however a downside to wind power; its variable nature because wind doesn’t always blow researchers must determine the effects it will have, however, wind power has been determined to be stable, because its cost does not fluctuate with the price of fuel.

Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into useful form, such as electricity, using wind turbines. It is used in large-scale wind farms and for national electrical grids as well as in small individual turbines for providing electricity to rural residences where traditional power is not offered.

Wind power is versatile when air moves, causing wind, it has kinetic energy—the energy created whenever mass is in motion. It is especially helpful here in the winter to capture both the ferocious and gentle mountain winds during the times of least sunlight and highest power use.

Wind Power is clean and renewable type of energy, and should be considered an important component of any long-term energy strategy. This is because wind power generation uses a natural and virtually inexhaustible source of power, (the wind) to produce electricity.

Wind power is an affordable, efficient and inexhaustible source of electricity. It is set to become an important means of generating electricity worldwide. Wind power has become the world’s fastest growing energy source, It a viable, robust, fast-growing industry. Wind power is growing partly as a result of technology improvements and cost reductions and partly in response to state and federal laws and incentives.

Wind power is by far the renewable source with the largest growth in worldwide capacity during the last decade. Wind power is now a major option for new, utility-scale power generation. It does not even compete with the prices of fossil fuels, which are continually rising on a daily basis.



Wind Power Is A Great Choice

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
wind power
Charles Cox asked:


Do you know anyone that does not want free electricity? It is certain that all of us do. As a matter of fact, if you could just discover the means to create enough free electricity right there at your very own house, you would most likely jump at the opportunity. With the price of gas to record levels and all your transportation costs rising, the sad thing is that gas is not a renewable fuel.

You may not know this, but wind turbines are becoming a great alternative to run power at many home across our country. While it cost you to own one initially, but in the long term, you will eventually recoup your costs. And if you were to utilize wind turbines that are powered with solar panels, the two items are a powerful force in creating low cost energy.

Solar energy by itself is totally free. However, if you are not careful, the price and maintenance of a solar panel can be very expensive so you need to consider whether your want to build one or buy one to use at home.

Another potential source of free electricity is nuclear power. This kind of power is already developed in many different countries. The initial price of setting up this system is very expensive. But the bad concern with nuclear power is that people are afraid of the risks because of the incidents at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. While it is not entirely impossible, using a nuclear power plant to run the power of the most part of the earth is expensive and risky.

When you consider all the power sources that we have mentioned here, it appears that the wind power is the most affordable. You just need to have a windy environment to effectively run the electricity. A gentle breeze will do for as long as it will keep the turbine running.

Wind turbines are very affordable. In fact, many companies today are selling wind turbines on an increasing scale. Capturing free power from the wind will only require that you install a wind turbine generator at your home.

A wind turbine can be constructed from auto parts (either new or old). Put the wind turbine at the highest place in your house as possible. Winds turbine is actually a good substitute for places that do not have access to the local power utility. Anyone who has knowledge with auto workshop and mechanic can actually build one wind turbine for himself.



The History Of Wind Power Is Plagued With A Financial Problem

Monday, February 23rd, 2009
wind power
Madison Greene asked:


One of the problems that has plagued us in creating and using alternative energy is the costs associated with making and installing wind turbines or solar panels. This only makes them cost-effective for the long term, and that doesn’t match the lives of most people who, on average, move once every five years. On top of that the business side of the equation makes it difficult and risky for investors to fund the alternative energy companies.

Private Equity Funding

One of the difficulties that wind power has faced throughout its history is the fact that the research and development money required to expand the growth of the industry comes from high risk private equity funding. That is to say, those companies who have a vested interest in the development of wind power are often privately held companies that are not publicly traded. In such an investment, the investment is “paid off” in residual income via dividend payments over an extended period of time.

For example, if one invests $20,000 in a wind power company the investment will cover a seven year period. During this seven years as the company takes in money in the form of profits it will pay out dividends during this seven yea period. Hopefully, by the end of the seven years the payments will not only cover the initial investment, but also provide a percentage of interest that would exceed what one would earn in the stock market. Sounds like a reasonable investment strategy, right?

So why has wind power history shown constant reluctance from investors to provide money? Well, it has little to do with any aversion to wind power or lack in faith in it as much as it is an aversion to a common problem with private equity.

The Problem with Private Equity

Unlike publicly traded funds, private equity funds can not be sold or dumped. That is, if you purchase a publicly traded stock you can sell it anytime you want. With private equity, you are stuck for the whole duration of the investment as it is an illiquid investment into a business.

So, if you are not making any money from the investment, you cannot get your money back. Sadly, throughout wind power history many people have felt uneasy in investing.

This is a shame as many people who have invested in private equity alternative energy companies have made huge amounts of money. However, it will be difficult to get the masses to invest with such risk, making it difficult for the wind power companies to operate at their full potential.

There is no doubt that somehow we need to try and solve this financial problem plaguing the history of alternative energy and wind power. Until we do, it is going to be difficult for alternative energy to be cost-effective enough for the masses to benefit from.



Pollution Control is Easy Using the Right Wind Power Design

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009
wind power
Joseph Friedel asked:


With a basic wind power design, you should be able to produce sufficient power for running all of your domestic electrical components. When you use your personal wind power, you will be able to start saving your earnings as well as the environment side by side. Nowadays you can find websites that provide plans to design and construct a wind mill that is simple with basic supplies from most hardware stores. Some supplies may have to be purchased from an electric supply shop, but these things are typically found without much difficulty.

Generating Your Own Wind Power Can Help You Benefit By Saving Quite A Bit Of Money

Keeping in mind that most people pay nothing less than $150 monthly on electrical power, this totals up to a little short of 50,000 dollars in about twenty five years. When you capitalize on wind power, you will offset the cost of the construction of the wind mill. Take into consideration the lessening of carbon levels if every single person exploited wind power for homes as well as for their offices. Even if only twenty three people built and used a wind turbine, the combined savings could potentially reach way more than one million dollars in 25 years.

Opting For A Wind Generator at Home Provides You With Free Power

Once you pay for your wind power construction details and all the other necessities, you are finished with paying for power every month. There are no mandatory fees, no grid to hook up too and the most exciting news is that there is no power company that is waiting to collect any kind of fees. Just about the only charges that you will need to bear would be towards occasional repairs and regular maintenance as your turbine ages.

Which Wind Power Design Is The Best?

The vast range of wind power designs that are available can be intimidating for most individuals. However, you are sure to soon see basically there are just 2 types wind mills or wind turbines, as they are widely known as. What you will get are large turbines that produce an average of 2000 watts or smaller sized ones that generate 700-1000 watts on average. The size of the turbine’s rotor and average wind speed will have an effect on how much power you would be able to produce.

What are the Alternatives that those Skilled Experts Suggest?

Most wind turbine pros will suggest that take it easy when starting out and then take off from there as you get more familiar with it. There is lots of manual work that is expected assembling a wind turbine at home. You can start small and use your first project to provide power to another building such as a garden shed. If your pilot project thrives, you could then consider building a turbine that is more complex that can power up a larger space.

You Certainly Do Not Have to Be a Specialist

Wind turbine construction will involve the use of a few basic tools, including a metal cutter. In addition you should have a little familiarity with electrical wiring and components. Most plans related to wind power will come with explicit instructions and diagrams. When in doubt, go ahead and get the opinion of a specialist when you get to the intricate parts of the project.



Wind Powered Generators - Create Your Own Power

Monday, January 5th, 2009
wind power
Joe Heinemann asked:


Making a home wind powered generator is actually much simpler, and cheaper, than many people imagine. In reality, anybody can do it. These generators are for the most part uncomplicated and do not take much maintenance if you build them properly. Also, creating your own power will be fun and extremely rewarding. But the most important reason for doing this is that you can save a huge amount of money on your energy bills.

Wind Generators can change over wind energy to electrical power. The only needed fuel is air current which is free, natural and unlimited. Even so, the basic cash outlay can be considerable although the price scope for standard home generators currently has become quite affordable. Another way of reducing your expenses considerably is by making it yourself. Initially though you must find out if your local wind conditions are  appropriate and if there are any regulations near you that can limit their effectiveness. Chiefly this concern is the height of the tower.

Wind powered generators for the most part are extremely uncomplicated. How windmills work is the wind spins the blades to engage a pump or some type of additional mechanized system. Wind turbines drive a spindle to power an alternator or similar type of transformation interface to switch the mechanical energy into electric power. This electric power will then get wired directly for consumption, storage or both. The surplus energy could also be transferred back into the power system for additional users.

The energy created from home wind generators has increased by 400% over the past seven years. According to the latest research, over 20 million homes in the US are situated in regions which are perfect for wind power. The potential amount of money that could be saved on energy is dramatic.

Luckily, wind energy systems are inexpensive for the typical family nowadays, thanks to diy kits that have become available on the internet. All the info you need can be downloaded straightaway. You could virtually start constructing and creating your own renewable energy within minutes of purchasing one of these kits.



Five Minutes to Find Out About Residential Wind Power

Thursday, January 1st, 2009
wind power
William Rigby asked:


ds fuel to provide power for its engine. A Wind turbine uses the wind to produce power. There are plenty of homes across the United States that are conducive for residential wind power. These homes would require only a small wind set up.

You would have to make sure that you had the correct wind resource for your home. To find out if your home qualifies, you would need to go online and find a wind map. Within that map, you will be able to determine if your home is right for this set up. The other requirement for this is that your home is located in a specific zoning area.

Residential wind power is operated by a wind turbine. This device is placed on top of a tower. This tower is responsible for gathering wind energy. The wind energy is then transformed into electricity. The result from the wind turbine is set so that it can match and work with the utility. The household wiring receives the output via the electrical breaker.

If the wind turbine produces excess power, the utility company buys that power. This system is set up automatically, so there’s no changing of human hands. There are no batteries to worry about with residential wind power.

The wind turbines are known to make noise, but not enough to where it is unbearable. The turbines do not interfere any electrical appliances or devices in the home. You don’t have to mess with any wiring in your home.

However, some areas have another utility meter installed on their property. The second meter is used to determine how much electricity was sold to the utility. Qualified residents are also allowed to have a wind generator per Federal guidelines. The incentive you have with this is that you would be paid for any additional electricity that is created.

The towers start at 35′ and go to about 80′. There should be a clearance of at least 20′ above obstacles around your residence. The more height the tower has, the faster the turbine will spin. This also helps the wind output to become milder.

It may take a while before you can tell whether or not this is a good investment for you. If your wind speed is average and your electricity cost is not high, then you may be able to get by. For some, it can take over six years to actually get your investment back. This would be done through utility savings. After the time period has passed, the cost for electricity would be free.

Another benefit for residential wind power is that qualified homeowners can be eligible for tax incentives and rebates for their system. If you are looking to save on electricity and willing to wait a few years to see the real benefits, then having residential wind power may be an investment you’ll want to make.



Home Made Solar Wind Power on a Budget

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008
wind power
James Chandler asked:


The energy crunch is a real worldwide crisis as fossil fuel supplies decrease and populations increase. Utility costs are going up in pace with the increasing demand for electricity. It’s no wonder that the alternative energy arena is a quickly growing market with millions of dollars invested every year. And of these great clean renewable energy sources, wind and solar power show the most promise.

What is really exciting is the realization of the incredibly high level of abundance of energy that is radiated by the sun. The amount is actually quite unfathomable. Studies have shown that the amount of energy received from the earth by the sun in just one hour is enough to satisfy the entire world’s electricity demand for an entire year! It really puts in perspective the grandeur of this almost endless source of energy.

When you think about it, the sun is really the source of all life on the planet as well as the driving force for all the weather patterns on earth. It is also the driving force behind every web of life and all of the earth’s cycles. This leads us to the other nearly endless abundant source of energy: Wind.

As long as the earth spins on its axis and the sun radiates upon it, weather patterns and the winds that are produced will always occur. Weather patterns consist of the complex and often chaotic relationship between water, the sun’s energy, and the cooling and heating of air masses throughout the atmosphere. It’s a constant interaction and clashing of cool (low pressure) air masses and hot (high pressure) air masses with water molecules usually in vapor or condensed states. It’s a very complex dance, but the result in many parts of the world is constant wind. One of the many places where winds blow constantly is the Great Plains region of North America, from northern Texas all the way to Canada.

Constant winds and the very simple yet efficient technology of wind turbines lead to a very clean and renewable source of electricity. Once again, the abundance of the source of energy is so great that it is difficult to put it in perspective. A study by Stanford University in 2005 showed that there is enough wind energy worldwide to satisfy 7 times the global demand. And that’s if only 20% of all the wind is captured!

So why is it that the human beings on the planet have not collectively headed toward using solar wind energy to meet global demands on a large scale and fully replace fossil fuels? Why haven’t large energy corporations and all governments invested trillions in wind and solar power by now? We all have a pretty good idea why, but that’s a whole other article. The purpose of this article is to inspire a call to action for solar and wind power, and to inform the reader that the revolution toward renewable energy starts with you the individual! How you may ask? By making your own solar wind home energy system.

Making your own solar wind energy system is totally doable today in a very cost effective way. Home solar power systems these days can run between $20 and $50 thousand depending on capacity. But there is a resource where you can learn how to make your own photovoltaic panels and your own wind turbines for under $200. If you are interested or inspired to supplement your electricity and cut down costs, you have to check out Michael Harvey’s manual for generating your own electricity. Remember the massive abundance of these energy sources, and you’ll be inspired to help yourself and the earth as well.