Small Wind Turbines-Making the Breeze Work for You
By Scott Gates
Wind power has long been a part of life in rural America. Thanks to Depression-era photos and old movies, the weather-beaten, multi-bladed silhouette of a lone windmill has become an icon for farm life.
A new generation of those early windmills are starting to dot the countryside by the thousands, and could help some homeowners trim their electric bills.
Early adopters of windmills could draw anywhere from 200 to 3,000 watts to power water pumps, lights, radios, and other appliances. Advancements in small wind technology have boosted efficiency, and most typical residential turbines today generate around 10 kilowatts. Units are available, however, that can generate up to 100 kW.
A homeowner paying $80 a month for electricity could shave 30 to 60 percent off their bill with a 3 kW turbine placed in the right spot, but installing a system still requires a sizeable up-front investment, anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000.
As a rule of thumb, the cost of buying, installing, and connecting a turbine to the grid can range from $4,000 to $10,000 per kilowatt.
To determine if a small wind turbine is right for you, do your homework. Just because it’s windy one day doesn’t mean the wind will blow when electricity generation is really needed on a hot, humid summer afternoon. You should hire an expert to conduct wind measurements for at least a year before installation.
For a more general idea, wind resource maps make it easy to gauge how winds typically blow in your area. State-by-state maps are available online through the National Renewable Energy Lab (www.nrel.gov).
Also, talk to other wind turbine owners about maintenance, possible noise problems, and issues involving power quality. Please note that small wind turbines, like any type of “backyard generation,” must meet cooperative interconnection standards before any excess power can be sold back.
Staff at Access Energy Cooperative are able to guide you to more information to help determine if a small wind turbine would be right for you. Please contact David Peer, Director of Engineering to learn more.