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Renewable Energy
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RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS & COMPONENTS
Wind Power: How to Determine if it is Practical for You Wind energy systems provide a cushion against electricity price increases. Wind energy systems reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and they don't emit greenhouse gases. If you are building a home in a remote location, a small wind energy system can help you avoid the high costs of extending utility power lines to your site. How to determine if a Wind Turbine System is Practical for You If you are a homeowner considering using wind turbines to power your home, there are a number of considerations. Fortunately, there are also a number of information sources to help you. The following will help you decide if a wind system is practical for you. What are the benefits to homeowners from using wind turbines? Wind energy systems provide a cushion against electricity price increases. Wind energy systems reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and they don't emit greenhouse gases. If you are building a home in a remote location, a small wind energy system can help you avoid the high costs of extending utility power lines to your site. Although
wind energy systems involve a significant initial investment, they
can be competitive with conventional energy sources when you account
for a lifetime of reduced or altogether avoided utility costs. They
length of the payback periodthe time before the savings resulting
from your system equal the system costdepends on the system
you choose, the wind resource in your site, electric utility rates
in your area, and how you use your wind system. Small wind energy systems can be used in connection with an electricity transmission and distribution system (called grid-connected systems), or in stand-alone applications that are not connected to the utility grid. A grid-connected wind turbine can reduce your consumption of utility-supplied electricity for lighting, appliances, and electric heat. If the turbine cannot deliver the amount of energy you need, the utility makes up the difference. When the wind system produces more electricity than the household requires, the excess can be sold to the utility. With the interconnections available today, switching takes place automatically. Stand-alone wind energy systems can be appropriate for homes, farms, or even entire communities (a co-housing project, for example) that are far from the nearest utility lines. Either type of system can be practical if the following conditions exist. Conditions for stand-alone systems
You live in an area with average annual wind speeds of at least 4.0
meters per second (9 miles per hour) Conditions for grid-connected systems
You live in an area with average annual wind speeds of at least 4.5
meters per second (10 miles per hour). Is your site right? To get a general idea if your region has good wind resources, look at the DOE Wind Energy Resource Atlas. The maps will show you if wind speeds in your area are strong enough to further investigate the wind resource. Of course, the maps are just a starting point-- the actual wind resource on your site will vary depending on topography and structure interference. And a localized site with good winds, such as a ridgetop, may not show up on the maps. You will need site-specific data to determine the wind resource at your exact location. If you do not have on-site data and want to obtain a clearer, more predictable picture of your wind resource, you may wish to measure wind speeds at your location for a year. You can do this with a recording anemometer, which generally costs $500 to $1,500. The most accurate reading are taken at "hub height" (i.e., the elevation at the top of the wind turbine tower). This requires placing the anemometer high enough to avoid turbulence created by trees, buildings, and other obstructions. The standard wind sensor height used to obtain data for the DOE maps is 10 meters (33 feet). You can have varied wind resources within the same property. If you live in complex terrain, take care in selecting the installation site. If you site your wind turbine on the top or on the windy side of a hill, for example, you will have more access to prevailing wind than in a gully or on the leeward (sheltered) side of a hill on the same property. Consider existing obstacles and plan for future obstructions, including trees and building, which could block the wind. Also realize the power in the wind is proportional to its speed (velocity) cubed (v³). This means that the amount of power you get from your generator goes quadruples when the wind speed double. Additional Considerations In addition to the factors listed previously, you should also
research potential legal and environmental obstacles You
should establish an energy budget to help define the size of turbine
that will be needed. Since energy efficiency is usually less expensive
than energy production, making your house more energy efficient first
will likely result in being able to spend less money since you may
need a smaller wind turbine to meet your needs. Before
you invest any time and money, research potential legal and environmental
obstacles to installing a wind system. Some jurisdictions, for example,
restrict the height of the structures permitted in residentially zoned
areas, although variances are often obtainable (see "Wind System
Basics which follows). Your neighbors might object to a wind machine
that blocks their view, or they might be concerned about noise. Consider
obstacles that might block the wind in the future (large planned developments
or saplings, for example). If you plan to connect the wind generator
to your local utility company's grid, find out its requirements for
interconnections and buying electricity from small independent power
producers. A residential wind energy system can be a good long-term investment. However, because circumstances such as electricity rates and interest rates vary, you need to decide whether purchasing a wind system is a smart financial move for you. Be sure you or your financial adviser conduct a thorough analysis before you buy a wind energy system. Grid-connected-system owners may be eligible to receive a small tax credit for the electricity they sell back to the utility. For 1996, it was 1.6 cents per kilowatt hour. The National Energy Policy Act of 1992 and the 1978 Public Utilities Regulatory Policy Act (PURPA) are two programs that apply to small independent power producers. PURPA also requires that the utility sell you power when you need it. Be sure you check with your local utility or state energy office before you assume any buy-back rate. Some Midwestern rates are very low (less than $.02/kWh), but some states have state-supported buy-back rates that encourage renewable energy generation. In addition, some states have "net billing," where utilities purchase excess electricity for the same rate at which they sell it. Also,
some states offer tax credits and some utilities offer rebates or
other incentives that can offset the cost of purchasing and installing
wind systems. Check with your state's department of revenue, your
local utility, public utility commission, or your local energy office
for information. All wind systems consist of a wind turbine, a tower, wiring, and the "balance of system" components: controllers, inverters, and/or batteries. Wind
Turbines A 1.5-kilowatt (kW) wind turbine will meet the needs of a home requiring 300 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month, for a location with a 6.26-meters-per-second (14-mile-per-hour) annual average wind speed. The manufacturer will provide you with the expected annual energy output of the turbine as a function of annual average wind speed. The manufacturer will also provide information on the maximum wind speed in which the turbine is designed to operate safely. Most turbines have automatic speed-governing systems to keep the rotor from spinning out of control in very high winds. This information, along with your local wind speed distribution and your energy budget, is sufficient to allow you to specify turbine size. Towers relatively small investments in increased tower height can yield very high rates of return in power production. For instance, to raise a 10-kW generator from a 18-meter (60-foot) tower height to a 30-meter (100-foot) tower involves a 10% increase in overall system cost, but it can produce 25% more power. There are two basic types of towers: self-supporting (free standing) and guyed. Most home wind power systems use a guyed tower. Guyed-lattice towers are the least expensive option. They consist of a simple, inexpensive framework of metal strips supported by guy cables and earth anchors. However, because the guy radius must be one-half to three-quarters of the tower height, guyed-lattice towers require enough space to accommodate them. Guyed towers can be hinged at the base so that they can be lowered to the ground for maintenance, repairs, or during hazardous weather such as hurricanes. Aluminum towers are prone to cracking and should be avoided. Balance
of System In very small systems, direct current (DC) appliances operate directly off the batteries. If you want to use standard appliances that require conventional household alternating current (AC), however, you must install an inverter to convert DC electricity to AC. Although the inverter slightly lowers the overall efficiency of the system, it allows the home to be wired for AC, a definite plus with lenders, electrical code officials, and future home buyers. For safety, batteries should be isolated from living areas and electronics because they contain corrosive and explosive substances. Lead-acid batteries also require protection from temperature extremes. In
grid-connected systems, the only additional equipment is a power conditioning
unit (inverter) that makes the turbine output electrically compatible
with the utility grid. No batteries are needed. Work with the manufacturer
and your local utility on this. According to many renewable energy experts, a stand-alone "hybrid" system that combines wind and photovoltaic (PV) technologies offers several advantages over either single system. In much of the United States, wind speeds are low in the summer when the sun shines brightest and longest. The wind is strong in the winter when there is less sunlight available. Because the peak operating times for wind and PV occur at different times of the day and year, hybrid systems are more likely to produce power when you need it. For the times when neither the wind generator nor the PV modules are producing electricity (for example, at night when the wind is not blowing), most stand-alone systems provide power through batteries and/or an engine-generator powered by fossil fuels. If the batteries run low, the engine-generator can be run at full power until the batteries are charged. Adding a fossil-fuel-powered generator makes the system more complex, but modern electronic controllers can operate these complex systems automatically. Adding an engine-generator can also reduce the number of PV modules and batteries in the system. Keep in mind that the storage capability must be large enough to supply electrical needs during noncharging periods. Battery banks are typically sized for one to three days of windless operation. Summary By investing in a small wind system, you can reduce your exposure to future fuel shortages and price increases and reduce pollution. Deciding whether to purchase a wind system, however, is complicated; there are many factors to consider. But if you have the right set of circumstances, a well-designed wind energy system can provide you with many years of cost-effective, clean, and reliable electricity. Courtesy of NREL Components:
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