People show an increasing tendency towards having
their own wind turbines for generating their own electricity and also for
reducing their contribution to environmental problems arising from carbon
based energy sources. Wind turbines and their
operation A wind turbine is a machine that can convert the
kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy. Blowing wind rotates
the blades of the turbine and the mechanism in it can generate
electricity upon this rotation. Wind turbines have mainly two types.
Horizontal axis and vertical axis wind turbines. They both have
advantages and disadvantages but horizontal axis ones are more common due
to higher efficiency. Individual wind
turbines Individual turbines can be used for various
purposes ranging from supplying energy for some small electrical devices
where grid connection is not possible to meeting part of the energy
demand of a house, a farm or even a production facility. Individual
generation systems can be standalone or grid connected. The energy output
from a standalone wind turbine can be directly used. However, in grid
connected systems excess electricity produced can be supplied to the
national grid system. In Ireland, you will have chance to be paid for the
excess electricity you supply to the grid up to 500kW. Individual wind
turbines can range from as small as 50W to as large as 3 MW, depending on
their purpose of use. Individual wind turbines for
domestic use Unlike large industrial wind turbines, these
turbines have smaller dimensions that make them appropriate for using in
relatively smaller areas. Their capacities range from as small as 50
watts to as high as 50 kilowatts and their prices vary depending on their
sizes, types and manufacturers. What to do for installing
a small wind generation system? First of all you
have to decide whether you really need a small scale wind turbine for your energy needs. Sometimes just
saving some energy can lower your bills but if the reason for considering
a small turbine is being in off-grid areas you can proceed to the other
steps. Inspect your site or your building (for
rooftop turbines) to see whether it is appropriate for installing a wind
turbine. You should have enough space to install a turbine without the
wind being blocked by other buildings or obstacles.
Determine your energy needs. Your utility
bills will probably be your best references.
See if the place you will install your turbine is windy enough. You
can always find wind measurement data in wind energy associations’
websites for your area. Depending on your
energy requirement and the wind potential in your area, decide the
capacity and type of the turbine you will need.
Your small scale wind system is expected to have a ROI period of
maximum fifteen years. Economic lifetime of a small wind turbine without
changing the main elements is estimated to be about twenty years and
proper maintenance will increase this. However, maintenance needs of
small wind turbines are expected to be minimal.
Get any permits required in your area. You
will probably need a contractor for erection, assembly, electrical
connections of your wind turbine. However, if your turbine is micro
scale, you can do these jobs by yourself as well. You can find domestic
scale wind turbines and also 400W or 1 kW self installed turbines and
accessories on windturbines.ie.
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Individual wind turbines for industrial uses, i.e. factory
sites Turbines for industrial uses have capacities between
500kW to 3 MW. You will be able to generate electricity for wind speeds
between 3 m/s and 25 m/s. For times that the wind is not blowing, one can
still get electricity from the grid. This will result in additional
revenue in addition to your reduced electricity bills.
Steps towards a wind turbine installation in your factory
site: The steps that should be made for installing an
industrial scale wind turbine are approximately the same as those for
installing a domestic turbine. The only difference is that they require
more expertise. So it would be a good idea to take a turnkey service from
an expert company in order not to experience any problems. The stages for
a turbine installation are outlined below: Wind
Measurement: As your annual electricity generation depends mainly on wind
speed, this step is of vital importance to be able to forecast your
energy production. You can never know what you will generate without
knowing what you have in hand. Feasibility studies: This will
be a detailed study to let you know whether your proposed system will be
a feasible project or not. Grid connection studies: This step
assesses grid connection possibilities for your proposed wind turbine.
Permission: Planning and installation of your wind turbine will
require some permits on planning stage and during installation. Failure
to get these permits may result in legal enforcement. Project
budget planning: What you will need to spend for your wind turbine
project from beginning to the end is an important item in any kind of
planning for business. Procurement, commissioning and
installation: All your equipment and staff needs for a turnkey project.
Post-sales services: Issues like warranty, technical service,
and maintenance.
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