Anyone using a wind mill for generating electricity?

Question

I'm looking into building or buying a wind mill for generating electricity

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The area I live in is regarded as fair to poor by the national wind map surveys but I live on a hill top with no obstructions for about a mile.

It seems that the wind is always blowing here. I have been looking at one that is getting a lot of attention in the news lately but it is about $12,000 to get it installed.

If you are using one would you let me know if you made it or bought it, and the pros and cons, and also how much maintenance.

Answer 1

i don't know but i have heard of it

Answer 2

I visited a wind farm in Ellensburg, Washington and each wind tower was 3 million. They were pretty huge though...

Wind Towers create more energy than solar panels, but it depends on the area where you live. If you live in a crowded area, a solar panel would work better whereas if you live in the country, a wind tower would be better because there's actually room to place it.

I don't know anyone on a residential level that uses a wind mill for energy. I didn't even know wind mills were available for residential use.

Answer 3

The top of a hill is often not extremely helpful. In fact a site close to a large body of water like a great lake or ocean is much better.

Why? it is a matter of turbulence. You may get a lot of wind up there but far too much turbulence.

About 90 meters up, from the ground, you can find relatively low turbulence wind. It is a smaller distance up when close to that large body of water.  At 40 meters you need to be close to the water.

If you google 'Wind 10kw'  or 'Wind 20kw' you will find a good array of practical offerings. Do remember that in your location you are unlikely to get an average greater than 25% of rated capacity year round with a tower 90 metres high. You get less with shorter towers.

It is much more cost effective to have a unit that is rated above 10kw, but the total cost is higher. But about 20kW is where the price per kWh goes flat... up to about 150kW.

China is offering some very economical units, but most of them are most economical without a tower. People are buying them cheap and mounting them on towers that are too short.

The advantage of this is that when the wind does become very strong their tower being shorter is not so easily knocked down, and they have capacity so that they do not need to furl to avoid over speeding. It can be shown to be poor economy.

One thing one should never do is put a breaker on the power line to prevent electrical overload. It allows the rotor to spin with no resistance.  One has to have and use an electrical brake or furl it.

Answer 4

i haven't known anyone that owns a wind mill but i do know  the principal behind it.so, you have the blades,that turn a rod,attached to that rod is some gears that speed up another rod.(eg the 1st rod is spinning at 5 rpm while the second one is spinning at 20rpm.) the second rod holds a magnet at  the end of it and round that magnet there is copper wire.the wire encircles it and the wire is split into two.

one is the posotive turminal and the other the negative. it works the same way in water.

Answer 5

I have a windmill, it is a Jacobs model 31-20 which produces 20kw.  It comes as a kit that needs a lot of assembly (mostly the tower).  The cost was about $55,000 but I got a state grant saving me over $10,000.  I have to climb the tower once or twice a year to grease it and change the oil.  Many of the models from other manufacturers are pretty much maintenance free.  Here are a couple of websites of the manufacturers.

www.windturbine.net  10kw to 20kw systems

www.bergey.com  up to 10kw systems

pros: I don't get an electric bill, I get a check from the power company.  I have met a lot of new people, they just stop by to ask questions about it.

cons: It takes a long time to get a return on the investment, I am figuring about 15 years. (many of these systems will take the entire life of the unit to pay back, some never do)

If you want to build one from scratch check out.

www.prairieturbines.com  They sell plans to build one yourself.

You may want to do an internet search for Mick Sagrillo, he has written many articles on home wind turbines and his advise was very valuable to me.

Answer 6

1.5 - 2 kw will not even power your toaster

you would only be generating power to run 15-20 100 watt lightbulbs

dont waste your cash

wait until costs come down

or try this