Renewable Energy

Wind Power

Date Added: 15/08/2008

Wind turbines are an easy way to cleanly and efficiently provide power to your business or home. This clean energy source is used in more than 70 countries worldwide, with 1.3% of global electricity being powered by the wind.

wind farms, wind power, wind turbine, windmill, renewable energy Wind power has been used for centuries; to sail boats, pump water and even power machines. The oldest known windmill design originated in 18th century Persian, where it was used to grind grains and pump water. Yet it wasn't until the 1980's that it began to be used in producing electricity and there have been many more advances since then. Today's single wind turbines can produce 200 times the amount of power, than its equivalent two decades ago.

Wind Turbines comprise of a tower, a nacelle and rotor. The tower is commonly made of steel tubes or lattice. The height of the tower varies but is generally proportional to the generator and the length of the blades on the wind turbine. The Nacelle is at the very top of the tower, it holds an electrical generator, the power controls and other mechanical equipment, that connect it to the rotor. The rotor is the bit that is spun around by the wind and collects power. It has specially shaped blades, usually made out a light composite material (i.e. fiberglass) that is pushed in the wind. The rotation energy in the rotor is turned into electricity within the generator.

The following criteria are needed for the turbine to be usable
- Average wind speed of 16km/hr and unobstructed area. Peak wind speed is between 55 to 90km/h.
- Property size of at least 2,000m2
- Local zoning that allows structures of 12.8m or taller
- Our local utility must have an existing interconnection system

If there is less or no wind, you can supplement it from the grid or battery backup system. If you produce too much wind energy, then the additional energy will be feed back into the main grids, providing you with credit from your electrical company. Otherwise the energy can be stored in deep-cycle batteries.

Solar shop has experience installing and designing wind turbine systems. They supply Skystream solar wind turbines, which are a compact, user friendly turbine design. They have an inbuilt inverter and control system that is designed to provide clean, quiet electricity even in low winds.

wind farms, wind power, wind turbine, windmill, renewable energy An in-built sound isolator will reduce any sound produced by the wind turbines. The Sky Stream wind turbine when operating at low RPM sounds like a quite wind through trees. It also allows you to easily control and monitor the turbines performance and download the reports onto your computer through a remote, which controls the turbine from up to 300m away.

At the moment Wind Turbines are only available as Remote Area Power Systems. Approval for wind turbines connected to the grid systems is expected by 2009.

Wind Facts

- Australia's first wind farm was established in 1993 in WA.
- Wind turbines in Australia vary between 50 and 80m tall.
- Wind energy is the least expensive large-scale renewable energy source.
- One reasonably powered 660kW wind turbine can generate enough power for the annual electrical needs of 365 homes.

Saving over 2000 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year.

- A typical 660 kW wind turbine will generate the same amount of energy over a year, as burning 315 tonnes of firewood.
- The area around wind turbines can still be used for farming crops or livestock. Sheeps, cows and horses are not disturbed by wind turbines.
- Most of Australia's current wind farms receive hot northerly winds during summer; this is also when energy consumption is at its peak (normally due to AC running long hours). So there is an abundance of clean energy during these days.

Carbon emissions are produced as a result of the transportation, manufacturing and construction of the wind turbines. However within the first few months of its operation, the wind farms will have produced enough clean power to have compensated for these emissions. In terms of paying for itself the wind turbine, has low maintenance costs and the pay back time will depend on cost of installation, electricity and wind speed, the wind system is know for paying back itself relatively quickly.

Renewable Energy Certificate's (REC) are available with wind turbines. The rebate is proportional to the amount of energy you save from the installation. One REC symbolizes 1MWh of electricity of renewable energy or one carbon credit. The value of the REC varies and can range from $6.00 to $36.00. Solarshop can help with arranging your REC rebates.