My very first memory of learning about wind power was from when I was a child. We lived in Oklahoma City, and every time we went to visit my grandparents, we passed this house that had, what I thought was, a very strange looking little windmill on the top of a pole in their back yard. I asked my dad what it was. That's when I found out about wind turbines. At that time, home use wind power wasn't a very popular thing, at least not that I was aware. Turbines were considered loud, a nuisance and an eyesore. In fact, that home that I had seen so many times was constantly receiving complaints from neighbors, claiming that the turbine was negatively affecting their home values. But the turbine owner didn't flinch. They even upgraded at one point. They knew what they were doing. Just like solar, standard wind turbines haven't changed much over the years, from the famous windmills of Holland to the simple windmills of China going back as far as 200 BC. There are, however, new improvements being made, and more and more options are coming to light.
Wind energy is the second most common form of alternative energy. In many ways, it is comparable with solar. There are, of course, many places where you can buy a new turbine. The cost of purchasing a brand new turbine can cost anywhere from just under $500.00 to well over several thousand, and go into the millions for commercial utlilty use. How much you spend will depend on what exactly you want and need. Windindustry.org states that a large home needs a 10 killowatt turbine, costing somewhere in the neighborhood of $50,000 - $80,000 installed. Keep in mind that that is the average usage based on a traditionally built large home with all the standard electronics and such that are common in a modern home. So that price will vary greatly depending on the size of the home, how it was built, and the actual amount of energy used. So, theoretically, it could cost significantly less than that. Now the positive side of buying new is the simple fact that it is, after all, new. Wind turbines have been known over the years to break down over time, the average lifespan being 20-25 years. This is a common sense issue, really. Turbines have parts that are almost constantly in motion. It only makes sense that they would need repair and replacement over time, as would any other appliance that contains moving parts. If you keep up with maintenance, those repairs shouldn't be too much in the way of cost. It's only if you don't keep up that you really need to worry too much. Just keep in mind that because of that, the entire unit will need to be replaced at some point in the future. As for the efficiency, there is a lot of debate there. The general consensus is that the maximum efficiency of a turbine is about 59.4%, although no turbine has been reported to actually perform that well as of yet. The wind industry says that they tend to run at around 30% efficiency. There is a new study out, however, that disputes that, stating that they only run at 22% efficiency. Even at the lower rate, that still makes them comparable with solar when it comes to efficiency.
Now before we move on to some alternatives to brand spanking new turbines, let's first discuss the difference between horizontal and vertical axis turbines. The turbines that you normally see are horizontal axis, meaning that the rotating axis is parallel to the ground. Vertical axis is just the opposite, where the axis is perpendicluar to the ground. The main difference seems to be in the types of winds they can handle. The common thinking is that horizontal axis turbines perfom better in low to average wind speeds, whereas vertical axis turbines perform better in higher wind speeds. There is, of course, debate there, as well. There are some advocates for vertical turbines who claim they can pick up even the smallest of breezes that traditional horizontal axis turbines won't budge for. There are also some who would say that the vertical axis turbines last longer as they aren't as heavy as horizontal axis, and there isn't as much friction on the moving parts as they turn. As there is much confusion and difference of opinions here, my personal suggestion would be to do as much research as you can on your specific needs, as well as the general conditions where you live to make the best choice. These sites may help. If there is no clear winner, then aquire one of each if you can. That way, you pretty much cover all your bases. One of each? Sure, why not? Don't get too worried just yet. I know. The whole purpose of this entire series, aside from being written for those who don't know too much about the process, is to go off grid as cheaply as possible. So let's go over some options that aren't quite as costly as what I mentioned above.
First we have these guys. This Dutch company has designed a new type of horizontal axis turbine that resembles a nautilus shell. The makers assert that this new design is lighter in weight, increases efficiency, and does so at a lower cost. Generating 1,500 kWh of energy per year from as little as 5 m/s winds, this turbine will cost $5,400. I say "will cost" simply because they do not currently have a location available for sales in the U.S. They plan to have those operations in place by the end of 2016, and currently do have locations across Europe. You can pre-order here, if interested.
Our next contestant comes from Iceland. Being that Iceland already runs 100% off renewable energy, I tend to think they might know what they're doing over there. This is a vertical axis turbine that is built to withstand the very high winds that are common to Iceland, but can also run easily in gentler breezes. These turbines are specifically designed for home use, and claim an amazing list of attributes, from low noise to being bird friendly, and so much more. As of this writing, their website states that these turbines are currently only available in Iceland, but should be available internationally by 2017. No cost is listed.
There is always the option to buy used turbines. Now considering what I mentioned earlier regarding the breakdown over time, I don't know that this is an option that particularly appeals to me. However, it is an option. Most companies that sell used turbines will rebuild, fix, and do whatever else is necessary in order to sell them in relatively new condition. Costs vary significantly based on original year of production, how much it was used, types of repairs needed, model type, and so on. Here a just a couple of sites for purchasing used turbines. Here and here.
Just a short little bit of inspiration here, there are some designs that aren't on the market, but are more or less independent designs. Want a turbine that looks absolutely nothing like a turbine? Check this out. Do you think that maybe you're too old to create something? This 89 year old created a bird-friendly turbine. For a much larger scale turbine, how about a tower that contains a series of smaller turbines at it's base, drawing the wind in to create energy 24/7? Want something even bigger? Maybe a building that acts as it's own turbine is something to get you motivated. Ok, so most of us aren't going to be building towers or building-sized turbines. But inspiration is inspiration, right? My personal inspiration comes from the kenetic art of Anthony Howe. If I could find a way to create significant energy from something like this, then I would be one very happy camper.
Now, the least expensive way to obtain a wind turbine is simply to build your own. With a little ingenuity and a lot of patience, there are tons of places out there with instructions on how to build a turbine, horizontal and/or vertical axis, yourself. The price range here seems to run from as low as $30 up to about $200 per turbine. Rather than go into too much of any one of these options, I'm going to leave you with a short list of sites with instructions to get you started.
http://freernrg.com/home-made-wind-turbine/
http://homestead-and-survival.com/build-wind-generator-truck-alternator/
http://offgridquest.com/energy/wind-power/diy-windmill-project
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-1000-watt-wind-turbine/
http://www.treehugger.com/wind-technology/build-diy-wind-turbine-30.html
http://theselfsufficientliving.com/free-diy-or-homemade-wind-turbine-plans-and-designs/
http://www.shtfpreparedness.com/diy-vertical-axis-wind-turbine/
As always, the most important thing is to do some research, find out if wind energy is something that you would consider, and if it is, which type of turbine suits your needs the best. Good luck in your search.
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