Home turbines can't light a candle?

Question

"A study of domestic turbines was published by renewable energy consultants Encraft in December. According to the study, only one of the 15 household wind turbines generated enough to power a 75W light bulb. The average daily output was 393.3W: an average of 17W per hour. In all, only three of the turbines generated over 400W of electricity, with one generating 1,790W per day."

Andrew Orlowski also says "Domestic "microwind" turbines, recently championed as "power from the people" by opposition leader David Cameron, are about as useful as a chocolate teapot."

Do you agree with this?

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/register/20080107/ttc-home-turbines-can-t-light-a-candle-d1d76f9_1.html

Answer 1

If the wind wasn't blowing at time of the test, output would be zero.  Try it in gale force winds next time.

Answer 2

I most certainly do.....even the massive windfarms they are proposing will not generate the electricity that the developers claim.....its all a con.

Answer 3

No- No solution is right for all situations, but a 75 W bulb is no longer a reasonable domestic energy drain. Please also consider that this doesn't take into account energy storage, usage fluctuation, or the fact that the turbine will last a long, long time.

The problem with this kind of assessment is that it presupposes a need for one solution which fits every location and use. There is no such thing, and trying to implement any solution in this way produces much of the energy waste in our society today. Thoughtful energy production design takes into account the best way to get energy in a particular place for a particular purpose. Furthermore, people who are willing to do this for themselves certainly are the people who must (and do) consider all options before investing. They are also the people who should know how efficient their appliances can be, if they're willing to buy something less iconic than a Frigidaire. Check out backwoodssolar.com to see some of the possibilities.

Small sample, unknown cross-section, commercial info source, and clearly a poorly designed trial. Wind works where wind works best.

Answer 4

are you still giving yourself best answers?  what a sad fellow.

Answer 5

Every home should have its own nuclear power station. They are quite small (they are used in satellites) and are not a blot on the landscape as these windmills are. And they work.

Answer 6

I agree

Siteing of turbines is key, and putting on urban buildings which produce loads of turbulence is a poor choice.

Better to buy from large turbines properly located and already available to everyone on the national grid.

better to insulate homes & reduce water usage as set out in Sustainable homes standard (level 3 is required for "affordable" homes receiving government grant >25% better than open market housing) http://www.sustainablehomes.co.uk/about2...

But of course your neighbours won't know how green you are without a recognisable "flag" wind turbine. For really good advice & training for home generation options see Centre for Alterrnative Technology - well worth a visit http://www.cat.org.uk

PS my local nuclear powerstation is a huge blot, a white dome bigger than St Pauls, sited on a flat coast of outstanding natural beuty, can be seen from over 12 miles away. (but not from Westminster)

Answer 7

That is correct. They need to start building houses with solar panel arrays on their roof. That generates electricity when it is light and needs no maintenance. It's only 15W per square meter at the moment, but that will rise. And the average roof is a lot of square meters.

Answer 8

75W could power three or four energy-saver bulbs, which is enough for most household environments in terms of lighting.

Even if it only powers one or two light bulbs it's good for keeping the hall light on or something.  People need to start thinking in terms of cost to the environment and not to themselves.  This technology will improve with time.