Many utilities offer renewable energy electricity to their customers. If you want to go a step further than purchasing renewable energy, you may be able to generate your own renewable energy by installing a wind turbine on your property.
Household wind turbines consist of a tall tower supporting a turbine, the same as you’d see on a large commercial wind farm. Turbine pivots to catch the best wind, and sends the electricity generated to power your home.
The best properties for turbines are larger than half an acre, with a 250 foot radius of unobstructed space to catch the wind. The turbine works best when operating 20 feet above the tallest obstruction, so a property with a 50 foot tree would require a turbine tower of at least 70 feet. Towers can be built to varying sizes, generally between 30 and 150 feet.
To generate enough energy, your property should have an average wind speed of at least 10 mph, although 12 mph is better. Wind speed and frequency can be determined by checking wind maps for your area, contacting local weather stations to obtain records, or hiring a third party to assess your property.
Turbines can supply your home with energy in two ways. First, they can funnel energy into a battery or generator, similar to those used by solar panels. The wind generates electricity which powers your home, and the excess is stored in the battery or generator for use when the wind dies down.
However, many turbines have the advantageous ability to be plugged directly into your existing electrical grid. When the wind isn’t blowing, your utility supplies your home with power. When the wind is blowing, the turbine supplies your home with power. Rather than storing excess power for use later, the energy your home can’t use is sent into the grid, and you will probably get paid for it.
Utilities are required by law to buy power generated by small energy systems – such as a single wind turbine. They do this through an agreement called net-metering, which allows your meter to spin in either direction. If there’s no wind, your meter runs forward, supplying your home with power. If the wind is up and creating more power than you need, your meter runs backward, supplying the grid with renewable energy for which you’ll get credit. Of course, agreements will vary by utility.
If you determine that your property is suitable for a wind turbine, you’ll then need to go through a process with your local planning office, applying for a permit and supplying electrical and engineering information to have your turbine approved. Household turbines are a new resource for property owners, and the permitting process will most likely be new to the planning office. Working together with local offices to establish a permit process for wind turbines will clear the way for others as this technology disperses across the country.
Household wind turbines consist of a tall tower supporting a turbine, the same as you’d see on a large commercial wind farm. Turbine pivots to catch the best wind, and sends the electricity generated to power your home.
The best properties for turbines are larger than half an acre, with a 250 foot radius of unobstructed space to catch the wind. The turbine works best when operating 20 feet above the tallest obstruction, so a property with a 50 foot tree would require a turbine tower of at least 70 feet. Towers can be built to varying sizes, generally between 30 and 150 feet.
To generate enough energy, your property should have an average wind speed of at least 10 mph, although 12 mph is better. Wind speed and frequency can be determined by checking wind maps for your area, contacting local weather stations to obtain records, or hiring a third party to assess your property.
Turbines can supply your home with energy in two ways. First, they can funnel energy into a battery or generator, similar to those used by solar panels. The wind generates electricity which powers your home, and the excess is stored in the battery or generator for use when the wind dies down.
However, many turbines have the advantageous ability to be plugged directly into your existing electrical grid. When the wind isn’t blowing, your utility supplies your home with power. When the wind is blowing, the turbine supplies your home with power. Rather than storing excess power for use later, the energy your home can’t use is sent into the grid, and you will probably get paid for it.
Utilities are required by law to buy power generated by small energy systems – such as a single wind turbine. They do this through an agreement called net-metering, which allows your meter to spin in either direction. If there’s no wind, your meter runs forward, supplying your home with power. If the wind is up and creating more power than you need, your meter runs backward, supplying the grid with renewable energy for which you’ll get credit. Of course, agreements will vary by utility.
If you determine that your property is suitable for a wind turbine, you’ll then need to go through a process with your local planning office, applying for a permit and supplying electrical and engineering information to have your turbine approved. Household turbines are a new resource for property owners, and the permitting process will most likely be new to the planning office. Working together with local offices to establish a permit process for wind turbines will clear the way for others as this technology disperses across the country.
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