If you have enough wind resource in your area and the situation is right, small wind electric systems can be one of the most cost-effective home-based renewable energy systems, with zero emissions and pollution.
Small wind electric systems can:
- Lower electricity bills by 50%–90%
- Help avoid the high costs of having utility power lines extended to a remote location
- Help uninterruptible power supplies ride through extended utility outages
- Be used for other applications, including water pumping on farms and ranches
How a Small Wind Electric System Works
Wind is created by the unequal heating of the Earth’s surface by the sun. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in wind into clean electricity. When the wind spins the wind turbine’s blades, a rotor captures the kinetic energy of the wind and converts it into rotary motion to drive the generator. Most turbines have automatic overspeed-governing systems to keep the rotor from spinning out of control in very high winds.
A small wind system can be connected to the electric grid through your power provider or it can stand alone (off-grid). This makes small wind electric systems a good choice for rural areas that are not already connected to the electric grid.
Some things you will have to determine if you are considering wind power for your home or business include:
- the location of the system
- the size of the system
- the height of the tower
- whether to connect the system to the electric grid or not
- the amount of wind at your site
- the zoning requirements and covenants in your area
- the economics, payback, and incentives of installing a wind system
If you are a small commercial or residential energy user in Southeast Michigan exploring “green” energy solutions, be sure to give Oak Electric a call at 800-964-7070 and visit our website at: www.oakelectric.com to learn more about our solar and wind power installations.
