Can the Use of Wind Really Power your Home?

Following on from my previous post on the applications of solar power for the home, the next part of this renewable energy series looks into the effects and uses of wind, whether this be for electric radiators, hot water, or another use. With the main usage, of course, being electricity. As we have been using this power for centuries (sails etc...), it seems only fitting that wind power has become a prevalent force in the small-scale renewable energies market. In this post I will attempt to cover the basics of the technology, its applications, and to what extent it is cut out for the task of small scale energy production.

Getting Started With Renewable Energy

Getting started with renewable energy article in Home Power Magazine gives a straightforward advice about professional load analysis and site survey when starting with renewable energy.

The first step in renewable energy system planning is to determine how much energy is needed to be made:

• If the site is off grid, the stand-alone systems must provide all the site’s required electricity with renewable energy sources or a backup engine generator. This is when energy efficiency and conservation becomes critical. For this reason, most renewable energy consultants will ask for a detailed load profile. These systems also need to be accounted for seasonal energy availability. For example, more energy will be used in the summer because the house is for vacation use or pumps a lot of water for irrigation. In a year-round home, the critical energy time may be winter, when more lights and other loads are used.

• On grid sites doesn't require accommodating the complete load. Systems can cover as little as 10% to 50%, or even over 100% of home’s electrical use. Utility detects the imbalance and supplies only what is demanded from the user. Any extra energy produced will go to the grids, which will buildup KWH credits that can be used when system’s output is lower.

When determining energy requirements, most dealers will roughly calculate what size of system is needed and give a ballpark cost figure. Then the installing dealer or RE consultant will visit the site and assess what RE resources are available on the property. When planning the system, everyone who will be using it should know how it was planned, how it works, and what he or she can do to make it run well.

For solar energy, site surveyor will evaluate the property with a solar site selector tool. It helps determine which locations the property or roof are shade free. This will show the best location for PV array or solar water collectors. PV arrays can be put hundreds of feet away from home, but solar hot water systems need to be much closer because long pipes become costly and incurs high heat losses.

If the property has a potential wind energy site, wind turbine might be a great asset. However, wind turbine requires regular maintenance and poorly cared components can become hazards. Surveyor will determine if adequate room exists for a tilt-up tower, or freestanding tower is necessary. Freestanding towers have smallest footprint, and may be the only appropriate tower for a small lot.

Micro hydroelectric systems can be one of the most cost effective but sometime hard to implement because local, state, and federal authorities can have jurisdiction over the activity, unless water resource is completely privately owned. Hydroelectric works well with solar or wind energy sources since water still flows when there is no sun or wind.

Hybrid systems are best for off grid system because one source can backup another source and vice versa. However, hybrid capability is less important on grid-tied systems which use utility grid for backup. Battery-less grid-tied systems are often the most cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and easy to operate systems available.

Source:  Home Power Magazine

Wind Turbines, Solar Panels, Electric Heating? Are you catching the Green Bug?

‘Sustainable sources of energy.’ ‘Sustainable fuel.’ These are phrases that we hear in the media with raising frequency. The buzz word on everyone’s tongue at the moment is ‘green.’ Whether you’re talking about rising oil prices, pollution, transport, or home life; the green movement keeps cropping up in conversations time and time again. From newcomers and casual environmentalists to hardcore eco-warriors, everyone is talking green. So, now that everyone has caught the ‘green bug,’ more and more people are turning to renewable sources of energy on a personal level. Therefore it seems prudent to combine these adventures with the rest of your home life.

Previously limited to crack-pot environmentalists, the whole world has gone green on a personal level. So with personal renewable energy now in the mainstream and at your finger tips, you need to ask yourself some questions. Why not produce your own electricity? Why not sell this back to providers when you don’t need it? Why spend money on gas central heating when you can make use of electric radiators, using your own, personally generated electricity? 

There are various different ways of generating electricity; here are some of the main ones that can be implemented on a personal scale.

• Thankfully the Sun doesn’t charge for its energy. Solar energy is the energy derived from the sun through the form of solar radiation. Solar water heating can reduce your bills by generating up to 60% of your hot water needs. Flat plate solar panels or evacuated tubes are installed on the roof and connected to your heating system.

     

• Photovoltaic panels are another way of generating electricity. This converts the solar radiation from the sun into direct current electricity. With the new Feed in Tariff (FIT) this is a good way to supply energy to your home, reduce your bills, receive income for the energy you use and any additional electricity sent back to the grid. 

• We live in a windy place; therefore Wind Power is often a highly topical issue across the UK. But we’re not talking wind farming here; it is possible to generate electricity by installing a small scale wind turbine. It is essential that a full site survey is completed initially to see whether the investment and location will provide a suitable return both in power and financial gain. 

• If you happen to live on a piece of land with access to a river or stream, then maybe hydroelectric power is the one for you. This basically involves the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of flowing water. Micro-hydro and Pico-hydro advances in the last few years mean this solution has become a real alternative on a small scale.

Whilst these methods may have a fairly large start-up cost, there are significant advantages to using them.  Firstly, once the renewable infrastructure has actually been put in place, the energy from it is free forever. Unlike carbon-based fuels, the wind and the sun and the earth itself provide fuel that is free, in amounts that are effectively limitless. Also, the renewable energy sources market is a rapidly changing one, whilst the fossil fuel technologies are effectively stagnant. With improving technology happening constantly, it is giving is the ability to increase the efficiency of renewable energy and continually reduce its cost.
 
As the world as a whole, including world leading governments, (see recent G8 meetings, Kyoto agreement etc...) continually makes strides towards the commitment to renewable energy, production volume are increasing rapidly, decreasing the individual cost of installing the infrastructure necessary. Also, with governments adding more and more monetary incentives for additional research and development, the innovation process is only getting faster.

Add this to increasing monetary incentives on a personal scale (recent UK RIT scheme for example) and it seems the benefits of renewable energy are fast outweighing the costs.

Article submitted by Carlo Ruggiero.

Carlo Ruggiero is a green aficionado who is passionate about getting the word out on renewable sources of energy and all things green, from funding your hot water to making money from your electric heating.  You can follow his struggle with social media and daily musings on Twitter.