subject: Home Wind Generator: First Step To Get One [print this page] It can be an overwhelming experience when people first think about getting a home wind generator. The science is completely new to most of us and like anything else that is new, we think we ought to be able to master it in a day or two.But, to get home wind turbines right you need to spend some time and effort on understanding what you are getting into and even analyzing whether or not you have any business buying such a thing in the first place.
It is so seductive to just jump ahead because wind energy is just so intuitively simple at first glance. However, this level of detail is what will separate a good project from a great project in the final analysis.There are a number of things that need to be done but the very first involves assessing the amount of wind energy that you have. You need to know this because the efficiency of a given home wind generator requires that it be matched with your specific wind conditions as accurately as possible.
This is a nuance of this wind exercise you will be engaging in that you need to get clear on - your individual wind profile has everything to do with the success of your project. And, each specific area around your home will have a different wind profile - sometimes, a radically different one.
We are used to thinking of the wind as a random force. As we look outside and watch the wind blow, it sure seems that way. But, if you do your due diligence and measure your wind carefully before you do anything else, you will find that the wind on your roof and the wind in your backyard, for example, are very different. You can do that with an anemometer placed on a pole with nothing more complicated than some duct tape to hold in on. (This system will work fine for the length of time you will have the anemometer in place and will be the most cost effective for you.)
Because the power you get out of home wind turbines behaves according to the cube root rule. That means that for every 1 mile per hour of extra wind you take advantage of by carefully placing your home wind generator in the best location, you get that much extra power, cubed!
This is why it is so critical to understand your personal wind. Rest assured, that each location which you pick as a potential place to put your wind turbine will have a different microclimate, or wind signature. If you look at the wind data on your roof, you will find that it will have a different average wind speed and a different speed profile throughout the day and throughout the month. That is because the obstacles to wind flow, such as trees and buildings on your property, will define that wind profile for that exact location. The way the wind blows around those obstacles will result in the specific microclimate for that exact spot.
Summarizing - with a home wind generator, I recommend strongly that you do not just dive in and get one. This is an exercise that requires some data collection first. You do that with an anemometer and you should plan on taking some data for 6-12 months before you make any determinations, just like the public utilities do before they invest in a wind project. That way you will stand the best chance of matching the wind turbine you buy with your unique set of wind circumstances.
