A Bit of Wind Electric Background

Windmills, the precursor to wind generators, have been in use for many centuries. These windmills were used to grind grain, press oil, pump water and saw wood. With the settling of the Midwest and Western United States, a new breed of windmill was used to pump water. Hundreds of thousands of these windmills were in use by the early part of the 20th century.

It was around this same time that wind generators were used for the first time here in the United States. They were used to produce electrical power for remote farms and ranches. (Most generators produced a kilowatt of power or less. This was enough to power lights and some small appliances.) However, wind energy declined sharply after the Rural Electric Administration began connecting rural areas to central utility stations in the 1930s and 1940s.

During the 1950's, experimental wind turbine technology was used by the United States, Russia, France, Britain and other countries but waned again in the 1960's. By the 1970's numerous countries were using wind turbines for large scale power generation. The world's first fossil fuel energy crunch started getting the general public to think about renewable energy, and residential wind electric generator systems had a rebirth.

Since then, wind systems have evolved rapidly. They are much more reliable and efficient, come with advanced control electronics and can be incorporated with off-grid or grid-interconnected systems.

Off-Grid and Grid-Interconnected Wind Systems

As with solar systems, wind systems can be off-grid and grid-interconnected. As the name implies, off-grid systems have no connection to the electric utility grid and use batteries to power your home when the wind is not blowing. Grid-interconnected systems connect the wind system to the utility grid. When there is not sufficient wind to power your home, electricity is drawn from the grid. When a surplus of wind energy is produced, the power is feed into the utility grid to be used by other customers.

Grid-interconnected systems are less complex, easier to install and less expensive because they do not require batteries. Off-grid systems are often used where there is not existing electrical service and by individuals who value energy independence.

Because of the inefficiencies of charging and discharging batteries, off-grid systems tend to be less efficient than grid-interconnected systems. Grid-interconnected systems also have a higher potential to generate electricity because they are not restricted by the charge capacity of a battery bank. When there is a surplus of power, it flows freely into the utility grid, spinning your electric meter backwards. When off-grid systems have a surplus of power, it is used to charge the battery bank until the batteries are full, and then the surplus can no longer be utilized. You can view schematics of an off-grid and grid-interconnected wind system.

What Components make up a Wind Electric System?

The first thing you need is not a wind turbine, but wind. This may sound trivial at first, but it is the most important aspect to a wind system. Wind turbines will usually start to produce significant power between 8 and 12 mph. It is important that potential sites be monitored first before making an investment. We can help evaluate your site before you install a system.

Once an adequate supply of wind is available, we have a number of wind turbines for you to choose from. We offer high-quality wind turbines from Bergey and Southwest Windpower with outputs in the range of 1-10 kW. We also offer a variety of tower kits used to mount wind turbines. Depending upon the turbine size, some can be mounted on tilt-up poles, while larger systems require towers to be erected with a crane.

A controller is needed to regulate the voltage and prevent battery overcharging. Many of these controllers are designed to work with wind and solar inputs to create hybrid systems.

Speaking of batteries, if you are off the grid or want some form of backup power, batteries are necessary to operate electrical loads when the wind turbine cannot supply enough power. Batteries are not required for a grid interconnected system; however, a hybrid of batteries and grid interconnection can be used to supply modest reserve power for emergency backup. Most off-grid systems use deep-cycle lead-acid batteries that can withstand the abuse of frequent charge and discharge cycles.

Most electrical devices are made to connect to the 120 Volt AC electrical grid. Inverters convert DC power from a wind system into AC power for your household appliances. Inverters also monitor your power 24 hours a day. When your wind system is not producing enough power, the system draws power from its bank of batteries. With grid-connected systems, the inverter is used to connect with the utility grid. It regulates surplus power flowing back into the grid and shuts down automatically if there is a utility power failure. This protects utility crews from any unexpected energy as they service the distribution lines.

What are the Advantages of Wind Systems?

Clean Energy

Compared to non-renewable energy such as coal, gas, oil and nuclear, wind energy is totally nonpolluting. Currently the manufacture, distribution and installation of wind systems does depend on non-renewable energy sources; however, over the useful life of a wind system, the amount of clean energy produced far exceeds the energy required to manufacture and install the system.

Robust Design

The turbines, blades and towers are designed to withstand severe weather conditions. During high winds, the turbine prevents damage to itself by limiting its rotational speed. The system is also designed with a diversion load that dumps excess wind energy that cannot be utilized.

Low Maintenance

Today's wind turbine systems require minimal maintenance. They have few moving parts and many turbines come with a 5 year warranty. The electrical components are even more robust and maintenance free. The battery bank of an off-grid system does need routine maintenance to ensure peak performance and full life. Grid-interconnected systems do not require backup batteries and need less maintenance.

What are the Disadvantages of Wind Systems?

No Wind

The wind doesn't always blow. Climates vary globally, and no matter where you live, wind is only part of the answer to a renewable energy solution.

System Cost

In most cases, wind systems are still more expensive than nonrenewable energy; however, the gap is narrowing, and energy shortages are becoming more commonplace. A number of significant incentives such as state grants are also making wind systems more affordable to install.

We offer a wide range of quality wind products. Whether you are interested in a complete wind system or a few components, we have what you're looking for. Please contact us for a quotation on a custom wind system.