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There are several angles to view this from. The feasibility depends greatly on from which angle you are viewing. Yes, small wind turbines or small solar power technology is inefficient for a large-scale public system compared to other types. Yes, it’s not as economically feasible. Yes, it’s not as cost effective.
BUT, if you are looking at it from the viewpoint of someone wanting to live off the grid, it’s very attractive. One man can neither run nor does he need the power generated from coal fired or petroleum based power plants. Small wind turbines, solar cells, micro hydro generators all become great options even though they are expensive. If you want to generate your own power, you are going to spend some bucks on it.
There are a lot of hurdles with wind power right now...
As for the residential windmills...its not a viable option. There are no rooftop mounts that I know of, because the vibration from the turbine would rattle a roof apart.
There are horizontal windmills being made in Chicago that address the vibration problem:
I saw a show about this guy and the product. Truly amazing technology. Simple as all get out, but until this man decided it was something he could do no one had made it work, at least not this well.
These units will run in a vertical position also so if the horizontal space is limited they can still be used. Vertically mounted is preferred since wind direction does not affect their output as it does for horizontally mounted units.
I think they are interesting. Certainly they aren't as polluting or as unattractive as oil wells, and I have seen vast fields of those. We do need more power, and while wind can't supply all of our country's power needs it can surely reduce the need for fossil fuels. So that makes them a good thing in my book. And no, if there was a wind farm in my area it would not bother me in the slightest.
The proposals are to reach about 20% wind. Not really a "crazy" level to integrate into the system. When Black and Veatch looked at the economics, they found the cost of 20% wind versus "business as usual" to be essentially identical.
We're actually talking about these at my work, as we weigh our limited (if sizeable) roof space and consider how best to capture renewable energy with it.
it's tough, as solar thermal is really the most mature technology, but PV seems to offer the most promise as far as future R&D improvements.
wind - a bit tougher to sell. we're talking about the horizontal wind turbines like the Aerotecture ones, but our Facility Planning guys get a bit nervous about anything involving moving parts and the roof.
Wind mills are a great concept how ever solar is better then wind. Wind mills have to be brought down and serviced one a year. They don't produce as well as solar either. A combination of wind and solar is better then just wind.
agreed, I'm on the solar bandwagon myself. my dad built a house in the late 70s in SE Wisconsin and had a solar thermal system installed, even building the roof on a 58 degree angle (or something specific like that). Only recently did I put together the sound the pump used to make (loud, but you learn to associate with hot water, which is good!), that actually went first.
unfortunately when that happened his roof was a shambles and no tax credits were out there - but the panels were donated to a local greenhouse, I understand they are still working fine. I'm hoping to install a new solar thermal system for him ni the next year or two, taking the classes with a contractor friend at Midwest Renewable Energy Association
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