The performance
and cost of wind turbines continues to improve. Turbines for
home and city usage for home owners or small industry come
in sizes varying from 1kWh to 50 kWh models. Large scale wind
turbines range from 640 kWh to 4 MWh. A 1 MWh turbine provides
enough power for about 300 conventional homes. It would take
about 14,000 wind turbines to power the province of Ontario
without any conservation measures. A 1 MWh wind turbine costs
about $2 million (Canadian). A 1 kWh Bergey XL wind turbine,
installed on a 60 foot tower, with an inverter that connects
the system to the grid costs about $15,000 (Canadian).
Tower
The higher
a tower the better. The typical smaller unit rated from 1
kWh to 50 kWh is usually mounted on a tower from 40 to 200
feet. Several types of tower system exist. The least expensive
are the tilt-up style. More expensive systems are mounted
on a concrete pad. Larger systems may require a special engineered
tower system.
Inverter
The use
of an inverter allows DC current to be transformed into AC
current. The Trace inverter below is a smaller unit rated
at 2500 watts. This unit is being hooked up to the wind turbine
using the thick white cable to the left of the picture.
The
Trace inverterabove is being hooked up to a 1kWh wind
turbine (a Bergey XL1). The laptop computer runs software
that allows the inverter to be configured and for monitoring
the amount of power generated. Copyright 2004 John Wilson
Grid
Tied
Wind turbines
can be hooked up to the utility grid in a number of different
ways. Some wind turbine systems come with the required electronics
to hook up to the grid directly. Other systems may require
the use of an additional inverter system to convert DC to
AC current. Grid connections can be made in a number of different
ways. Direct connections through your electrical meter will
turn that meter backwards when more energy is generated than
used. A "net metering" approach provides two meters
so that generated electricity is supplied directly into the
grid and measured so that the bill may be reduced by the appropriate
amount (or you may be able to get paid for excess beyond what
you use in some places).
Off-the-Grid
Off-the-grid
means that all the energy generated by the wind turbine will be
used or stored on site. No connection to the utility grid is available
in this configuration. This situation requires a substantial investment
in batteries and charge control management systems so that excess
energy can be stored for use when peak demands arise.
This
modern house uses 15 solar panels on a tracker and a large
bank of batteries to provide all required power off-the-grid.
In order to minimize the power requirements this house has
a super efficienty SunFrost refrigerator. The heating system
is an in-floor hydronic system with a high efficiency in-line
gas boiler. Copyright 2004 John Wilson
To contact John
Wilson about the Wilson Natural home or about the Solar Village
development being planned please send an email to john.wilson@naturallifenetwork.com
.
More Information
on the Web on how you too can take advantage of solar, wind, straw
bale, green roofing and to learn much more about the construction
of the Wilson home see - http://www.NaturalLifeNetwork.com/wilson
.
Breathe Architects
/ Martin Liefhebber
The firm is the award winning architect for the Wilson House.
Breathe Architects is an unique design firm with leading edge expertise
in ecological and renewable energy systems. The firm combines a
variety of interrelated disciplines to develop affordable and environmentally
adept housing.
Web: www.breathebyassociation.com
EMail: info@breathebyassociation.com
Phone: 416-469-0018
Kolapore
Construction Inc. (formerly C & R Construction) / Colin Richards
Kolapore Construction is in the custom home construction business
with a distinct view to the integration of natural, ecologically
friendly, and renewable energy resources.
Email: gregory.richards@sympatico.ca
Phone: 905-880-2732
Phantom Electron
Corporation / Leonard Allen
We are innovators, committed to a leadership role in the development
and utilization of solar electric technologies in mainstream applications.
Our team is building a unique company that is powered by vision...
a vision that sees our products providing an avenue for transparent
integration of renewable energy into everyday markets.
Web: www.phantomelectron.com
EMail: sales@phantomelectron.com
Phone: 905-430-6512
