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Wind Energy FactsRenewable Wind Energy Offers A Green, Clean Energy AlternativeHere are some wind energy facts that reveal how wind turbines can offer a clean, byproduct-free method to generate electrical power. If you live in an area where wind is plentiful, installing a home wind turbine to generate electricity for your household could reduce your utility bills by up to 80%, or possibly more.Renewable wind energy is not only clean energy, but it helps to reduce harmful greenhouse gases since every kilowatt of electricity produced through a wind turbine replaces a kilowatt of electricity that's produced through the burning of fossil fuels. Wind Energy FactsWind FarmsWind renewable energy is not only a good source of alternative electrical power for homeowners, but it can also supply large scale electricity needs for villages, cities, and entire countries. Wind farms consisting of many wind turbines spread out over open, non residential areas can be connected to an electric power grid to power numerous homes.For instance, around 19% of the electricity used in Denmark is produced by large wind turbines generating wind power renewable energy. The photo below shows an operating wind farm in Aalborg, Denmark.
Photo by Neutronic While sightseeing in Scotland in 2010, my wife and I traveled northward into the Scottish Highlands, following the course of the Caledonian Canal to Fort Augustus on Loch Ness and on through to Inverness. From the highway, we noticed several wind farms prominently perched on distant highland slopes. Wind power is Scotland's fastest growing renewable energy source. The Scottish government has set a target of generating 50% of Scotland's electricity from renewable energy by 2020. Other countries take note. The photo below shows a wind farm operating at the Findhorm Ecovillage about 26 miles to the northeast of Inverness.
Photo by W. L. Tarbert Wind farms can range in size from those having just 2 or 3 wind turbines to others that have up to 900 or more. The towers elevating the turbines vary in height, but most are at least 80 feet tall to raise the blades of the turbine above the interference of trees, uneven ground features, and manmade structures so they can catch the prevailing winds. A wind turbine typically has 3 large blades and it's situated on a tall metal pole or on a hollow access tower, depending on its size. Electrical power is generated by the turbine when its blades are turned by the wind. Wind farms are quite visible on the horizon, so they're not always popular with environmentalists and those who prefer a pristine view of the countryside. Wind Energy FactsInstalling Home Wind TurbinesIf you plan to install a wind turbine for residential use, it needs to be elevated above surrounding structures, and you'll need to have enough land area to accommodate it, since it must be situated far enough from neighbors to not be considered a nuisance.The tower also needs to be distanced away from your home for safety concerns. There's always the danger from a loose blade flying off in a severe windstorm to consider. Before making any plans for wind power renewable energy, you'll need to check local zoning regulations and a building permit will likely be required. As for noise considerations, small wind turbines are relatively quiet and when the blades are turning, they make about as much noise as a household washing machine. However, the constant drone or subtle hum of the spinning blades can be a bit distracting at times, and some people find the sound unnerving and a potential health issue. Wind Energy FactsFree Wind MapsObviously, to take advantage of wind power renewable energy you'll need to live in an area that receives enough wind on a year-round basis. Houses in coastal regions and in areas of high elevation perform best. However, wind turbines don't require strong winds to be effective. An average wind speed of around 9 mph is all it takes to power a turbine.Wind maps can help you to determine if your home is in a suitable location to receive the necessary winds. For example, the Environment Canada Wind Energy Atlas site offers free wind maps for downloading that display the average wind velocity and power for anywhere in the country. Similar maps are available in other countries and can be found easily by searching on Google. Wind Energy FactsFeed-in Tariff ProgramThe wind doesn't blow continuously, so most home turbine installations have both the electric power grid and the wind turbine connected to the house so the household can use electricity from the utility company when there's no wind blowing to turn the blades.But, when it's really windy and your wind turbine can produce more power than your house needs, you can simply sell the excess electrical power back to the utility company and offset your electric bill, provided your utility company offers a Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program. The wind energy facts we've discussed reveal that wind power renewable energy is not for everyone since not everyone has the wind and location needed, but it does offer a good source of renewable power for those able to meet its demands. TOP of Wind Energy Facts HOME to Solar Power Systems |
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