How wind turbines work
Turbines collect the power of the wind and convert it into electricity.
Similar to solar panels, you can connect small wind energy systems to the electrical grid or battery banks, reducing your consumption of grid-supplied electricity.
There are two main types of micro turbines suitable for homes or businesses:
For rural areas
These have a horizontal axis and look like mini versions of turbines on commercial wind farms.
These are best suited to rural areas with less obstructions like buildings and trees, and that receive relatively constant wind.
For urban aras
These turbines have a vertical axis and look like egg beaters. They capture wind from multiple angles, producing very low noise.
These can be mounted on rooftops in urban areas, as they work well where the wind direction varies.
Choosing the right turbine
A professional installer will help you determine what size turbine you'll need.
To find the right location, you need to think about wind speed. To be effective, a wind turbine needs relatively constant wind with a speed of 9-16km per hour.
Households normally use microturbines that are smaller than 5 kilowatts (5kW).
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Before you buy and install
- First, you should establish an energy budget. Reducing your home's electricity use is probably more cost effective and will reduce the size of your wind turbine.
- Talk to your power company about how you're connecting your turbine; whether you're connecting your turbine to a battery bank, or connecting it to your electricity grid to sell excess power.
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