June 26, 2010
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Energy
Steve D Evans asked:Wind energy is the fastest growing renewable energy source in the world. The technology is now seen as having so many advantages that in Europe and the United States, wind-powered generating capacity increased by 18 percent and 27 percent, respectively, in 2005 alone.
Foremost of those advantages; it is a clean source of electricity produced when specially designed wind turbines capture the wind to generate electricity. In the same way as historical windmills, modern wind turbines generate power from the wind. The latest technology produces wind energy reliably and efficiently. Unlike other power plants, wind energy systems require minimal maintenance and have low operating expenses.
Wind energy is, in fact, a method by which solar energy is converted into electrical power. The sun’s radiation heats different parts of the earth at different rates – most notably during the day and night, but also when different surfaces (for example, water and land,) absorb or reflect at different rates. That creates the winds that wind turbines use to create electricity, and the electricity they produce is generated right up on the mast behind the turbine blades. A simple cable then conducts the power into the electrical power grid
Wind is a clean fuel; wind farms produce no air or water pollution because no fuel is burned. This means that wind energy is also a source of clean, green non-polluting, electricity. Unlike conventional power plants which burn carbonaceous fuels, wind plants emit no air pollutants or greenhouse gases.
Wind energy is one of the cheapest of the renewable energy technologies. It is competitive with new clean coal fired power stations and cheaper than new nuclear power. Small wonder then that wind energy is the leading renewable energy technology.
It can be developed much further and given the right support it could provide up to 28% of EU electricity by 2030. Wind energy is popular as well. Dozens of surveys have been conducted in the U.S. that have shown its popularity. One reason why it is popular, especially in remote windy areas, is partly due to the fact that wind energy creates 27 percent more jobs than advanced coal technology and twenty times more jobs than natural gas combined cycle.
Wind energy is plentiful in most parts of the world, renewable, widely distributed, clean, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by displacing fossil-fuel-derived electricity. Therefore, it is considered by experts to be more environmentally friendly than most other energy sources. Wind energy is also a permanently available form of energy. The wind will exist for as long as the sun exists, which is roughly another four billion years!
Wind energy is clean energy. Unlike coal or natural gas, every kilowatt-hour of wind energy is free of the toxic emissions that pollute our air and water.
Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing forms of electricity generation in the world. The United States can currently generate more than 10,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity from the wind, which is enough to power 2.5 million average American homes. Wind energy is a pollution-free, infinitely sustainable form of energy. It doesn’t use fuel; it doesn’t produce greenhouse gases once built, and it doesn’t produce toxic or radioactive waste.
Wind energy tends to be available in winter when power is needed and is available overnight, when solar energy is unable to provide direct power.
However, wind energy is not immune from disadvantages.
This form of energy is intermittent at any one site, and can only be generated when wind velocities are within a certain range. During high winds which would possibly damage the turbine blades the turbine is stopped and automatically furled, and when wind velocities are too low they can obviously not provide power either.
This means that there will always need to be backup fossil fuel power stations which the generating company will need to hold in readiness for windless days, and providing these plants will be very expensive.
Some say that if the power grid extends across several nations there will always be somewhere that is windy enough to be generating power at any time. However, they tend to forget that there are energy losses in the power distribution lines which eventually, across large distances, render such large distribution distances uneconomic.
Therefore, as the proportion of wind energy supplying national grid systems increases, power engineers will face an ever increasing challenge to balance the power across the system and provide all their users with a dependable continuous supply on airless and calm days. It is not clear how that can be achieved once the proportion of wind energy rises above a certain threshold.
There are many other disadvantages of wind power, which are less important, but nevertheless of great concern to those which will need to accommodate wind turbines as their close neighbors.
Modern windmills are not devoid of environmental impacts upon their localities and the most important of these can be listed as:-
- turbine blade noise
- potential for disturbance to wildlife and a hazard to flying birds which may be hit by the blades
- visual intrusion, especially since the highest winds are usually found in some of the most remote, beautiful and most unspoilt places around the world.Nevertheless, in more than 50 countries the locals are clearly being willing to reduce as far as possible these impacts by careful site selection and turbine design. Then they are coming to terms with those disadvantages which remain, to help their nations maintain power supplies against rising oil price rises, and do this in a renewable way, at low cost, and with very low greenhouse gas emissions.
For this reason we say that all of us must expect to see more and more wind farms being built right across the countryside and out at sea as well.
Read more on Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Energy…
Energy Tags: energy resources, alternative energy
June 23, 2010
- How Does Wind Power Energy Work? What You Should Know About Wind Energy
Evangeline Cortez asked:To find out how wind energy work, one must be familiar first with what it is. It basically comes from the sun, and about one to two percent of this solar energy is converted to wind energy. When the sun’s reflected rays are absorbed by water or land, this causes the atmosphere to become warm. Because hot air is lighter than cold air, it will rise up. When hot air rises until it is approximately six miles in altitude and as the cool air replaces this in the atmosphere, wind energy is formed. Although it is more commonly known as a converted form of solar energy, it is also recognized for its property of converting kinetic energy into both electrical and mechanical energy.
The converted forms of energy, which are electrical and mechanical energy, are used by mankind for a multitude of purposes. On main element to consider in knowing how wind power work is its turbine. With the use of its propeller blades, wind turbines supply power to whatever mechanical generator there is that will convert wind energy to electricity. The power generated by one wind turbine is believed to be enough to run electricity in one house. A propeller blade is actually a mechanical rotor that is assembled in threes, with the blades connected at the center. The more wind there is, the more these blades are propelled by the wind, and the more electricity is produced. Most of the time, the electricity generated from the wind turbines are fed directly into power lines. This electricity is then combined with other forms of electricity coming from other sources and it becomes the utility electricity that is being delivered to households.
Another important factor is its environmental benefits. It is said to be more practical and eco-friendly because it does not pollute the environment with green house gases that are emitted by fossil fuels when they produce electricity. Also, it is abundant and renewable. Apart from being pollution-free, it is relatively very cheap. It is used by a lot of households in generating electricity. It has been studied that for every one megawatt of wind energy, about two hundred twenty five to three hundred households receive electricity from the said amount of wind power. It comes from solar energy. It is safe to say then, that the sun truly has so much power that if mankind only knew how to properly utilize these energies coming from the sun, there would be less and less dilemmas on where to get electricity.
Read more on How Does Wind Power Energy Work? What You Should Know About Wind Energy…
Energy Tags: alternative energy, solar power
June 19, 2010
- How Wind Energy Works
Sandra Maria Stammberger asked:Have you ever considered using the resources that nature provides to power your home? People have relied on wind energy for decades. It is only recently that the renewable alternative to carbon style electricity has been thrust into the limelight. With the battle for the White House in full swing, “going green” is a huge topic and one that wind energy fits into nicely. Wind power is a clean, renewable energy that produces no by-products. It does not use water as a source and emits no carbon dioxide into the environment. Tidbits our presidential candidates would be quick to stand behind.
The power of wind has been used by people over the years to fly kites, wind surf and even to produce electricity. Many small farms in the midwest used old fashioned windmills to produce energy for grinding grain or pumping water from a well. The old fashioned windmill has advanced in recent years to a sleek designed wind turbine. You can find many wind turbine farms in some of the windier states of America. Montana, for instance, has several wind turbine farms in the area of the Chinook winds (strong winds that blow down from the north). These turbine farms generate electricity for the main power grids of their areas.
Let’s take a look at how wind energy works. A wind turbine is much like a fan except it operates backwards. A fan uses electricity to make wind. A wind turbine uses the wind to make electricity. Much like a hydroelectric dam that uses the power of the water to create energy, a wind turbine traps the kinetic energy produced by the wind and converts it into electricity. The electricity produced is DC power. A converter is needed to transform the DC power into AC power for use in private homes. It is important to consult a trained professional about installing a wind turbine into your home.
The idea that a homeowner can capture the wind to power his own home is phenominal. It is every homeowners desire to see the electric bill reduced. Several possibilities exist in aiding the homeowner in his quest for a lighter bill at the end of the month. Wind power is one of them. In some cases, the electric companies that supply carbon style power have been known to pay homeowners that can contribute to the collection of power. There are several possiblilities when purchasing a wind turbine. Many varieties of turbines ranging from very large to rooftop size exist and are available in today’s market. Make going green an economical decision that not only benefits the environment but also puts your money back into your pocket.
Read more on How Wind Energy Works…
Energy Tags: energy, energy resources
June 17, 2010
- Wind Energy – Using Wind Power For Your Home
Alexander Brody asked:Alternative energy sources are becoming more and more important as the failing reserves of fossil fuels drive prices up. No one really knows how long the current reserves of oil will last, but according to experts, they may be gone in as little as few decades. It is wise to start investigating solutions now, when there is still time left. Fortunately, the current developments in the field of renewable energy make it simple enough to build your own wind turbine or a solar power generator.
Why choose wind energy for your home? It has the following advantages:
- Environmentally clean. It produces much less greenhouse gases than conventional sources.
- Renewable (naturally replenished).
- Plentiful. The amount of wind power that can be potentially generated is at least five times as high as the total energy consumption of our entire planet. There will never be a shortage of it.
- Low maintenance costs. Wind turbines don’t require much maintenance, so the only costs associated with wind power are those of constructing and setting up the turbines. Afterward, the costs are negligible – if you ignore equipment costs, wind energy is almost free!
In some countries (such as Denmark), it is used very widely, accounting for up to 20% of total energy output. No wonder it is a great addition to your domestic power generation system. Wind power generally cannot be used as a sole source of electricity (because winds are variable and unstable) but this is usually not a problem, because you most likely have a power grid connection anyway.
Residential wind turbines are very feasible and are not very expensive (About one fifth of what it costed back in 1980). Overall, adding a wind generator to your home power system is an excellent way to decrease your energy bills and make a step on the way towards environmentally-conscious living.
Read more on Wind Energy – Using Wind Power For Your Home…
Energy Tags: solar power, hybrid cars
June 14, 2010
- Alternative Energy And Wind Energy – Wind Energy Literally in the Palm of Your Hand
Sam Greyhawk asked:Wind power has historically played a big part in US culture. During the 1920s and 1930s, farms throughout the Midwest took advantage of wind power to generate electricity for their lights and electric motors. When our government started actively subsidizing the construction of fossil fuel based power plants and the associated utility lines, wind power fell into decline. Similar to energy efficiency, during the energy crisis in the 1970s, things that were old became new again. Now with growing environmental concerns being expressed globally many people are once reexamining wind power.
Wind Energy Basics
One form of energy, wind (a form of solar energy), is converted to another form of energy, electricity, using a wind turbine. As the turbine spins, electricity is generated. Similar to solar power, wind power is protected from inflation. How? Any power you generate using your own wind turbine goes against the current utility pricing. Wind power can effectively shield you from rising electricity costs.
Wind Energy in the Palm of My Hand?
As consumers show renewed interest in renewable energy sources like wind, product manufacturers are already rushing to respond. One of the most interesting consumer wind technologies is both amazingly inexpensive and amazingly small. How small? You can hold this particular wind turbine in your hand – while it’s generating electricity.
The HYmini
A product of MINIWIZ Sustainable Energy Dev. LTD, the HYmini is a revolutionary new green product. While I’ve frequently seen many small consumer versions of solar technologies, specifically designed to power your cell phone, PDAs and MP3 players, this is the first handheld wind turbine I’ve encountered.
The HYmini combines a small wind turbine designed to generate power in wind speeds between 9-30 miles per hour with an internal 1200mAh lithium ion polymer battery. The HYmini maxs out it’s ability to convert wind into electricity at 40 miles per hour. The battery is good for about 500 complete charge cycles. The HYmini is literally a green power station that you can hold in the palm of your hand.
The inventors of the HYmini pushed the envelope and added a few more impressive green features. To maximize the flexibility of their new device, they allowed for the HYmini battery to be externally recharged. That means in a pinch you can plug your HYmini into any USB port or conventional 100-240V wall plug and instantly start recharging.
miniSOLAR
If plugging your HYmini into your electrical outlet isn’t green enough for you then consider the miniSOLAR option. miniSOLAR is an inexpensive solar panel designed to work with the HYmini. Thanks to HYmini’s ability to externally recharge, you can easily add up to four miniSOLAR panels to recharge your HYmini using solar energy. Each miniSOLAR panel can add up to 140mA at 5V of recharging power. Staying with the eco-friendly theme, the MINIWIZ team houses each miniSOLAR panel in a recycled card board paper package.
HYmini Applications
HYmini is perfect for both runners and cyclists and to encourage it’s use in both those markets the MINIWIZ team offers both a bicycle mount and an armband. If the wind is a little slow on a particular day then why not add some human energy to the mix. The HYmini will literally be generating electricity while you are burning through calories.
Ignoring the wind turbine for a moment, the HYmini, is also the perfect rechargeable backup battery pack for all your mobile electronics. This expands possible uses for the HYmini exponentially.
Talk To Me About Power
Thanks to some useful testing completed by MINIWIZ we have some hard facts regarding power generation for the HYmini. According to MINIWIZ using the HYmini wind turbine or the miniSOLAR panels you can capture enough energy in 20 minutes to power:
A MP3 Player for 40 minutes A PDA for 40 minutes An iPod for 30 minutes A Cell Phone for 4 minutes A Digital Camera for 20 pictures
To capture that much wind energy you will however need constant 19 mile per hour wind speeds. The solar panels will need direct sunlight as well. You can learn more about the HYmini and the miniSOLAR panels at the following website:
http://www.hymini.com/
As technology advances, you can expect to see many more unique green technologies such as the HYmini. Wind power is a lost part of our culture, a part we have recently started to reconnect with and the HYmini offers consumers an inexpensive way to implement wind power in their lives today. Using devices like the HYmini can reduce disposable battery usage and waste. When batteries are improperly disposed of and end up in landfills or incinerators, they inevitably leak into our environment and eventually end up in our food chain. Take part in the new wind power revolution and reduce your battery usage, the environment will thank you for both.
Read more on Alternative Energy And Wind Energy – Wind Energy Literally in the Palm of Your Hand…
Energy Tags: hybrid cars, energy resources
June 10, 2010
- Wind Power- A Viable Solution to Meeting Alternative Energy Needs
Although it is much less expensive to initially get hooked into the local electric company’s grid than it is to set up and hook into wind turbines, in the long run one saves money by utilizing the wind for one’s energy needs—while also becoming more independent. Not receiving an electric bill while enjoying the advantages of the modern electrically-driven lifestyle is a wondrous feeling.
Read more on Wind Power- A Viable Solution to Meeting Alternative Energy Needs…
Energy Tags: hybrid cars, biodiesel
June 9, 2010
- Is the Market Ready For These Wind Energy Developments?
J Cosmos asked:Move over Boone Pickens. Wind energy information is finally bringing in some innovation. New products for Alternative Energy and it’s in Wind.
If you seem surprised at these changes, it probably because you just haven’t been used to seeing a lot of changes in the industry.
Seeing some good solid companies actually trying to tap wind energy in an unconventional way is almost breathtaking. I love it. More than that, I appreciate it.
Conventional wind farms are doing all they can just to organize their business efficiently and set up as many wind turbines as possible. The turbine business is dominated by a few giants turbine makers who can’t possibly keep up with demand. All they want to do is produce like crazy. Pump the machines out as soon as possible. The heck with original thinking.
If you are a wind developer, then you already know that you have to buy up anything that whines like a turbine, anything at all. With that situation, there’s little interest in the Vestas’s and the GE’s of the world to invest in the newest technologies in order to improve or even complement their existing business. They can’t even keep up with what they have.
Recently, Joshua Magee, who is an analyst with Emerging Energy Research, said that the focus in the wind industry right now is on implementation, not innovation.
Now having said that, we all know that the big companies tend to get a bit of big-company-itis, and they ignore coming innovation at their own peril. They may be the giants today, tomorrow they may need to move over and go sit in the shade.
Witness these three innovative companies who stepped up to the plate and hit a good one. Will they be home runs? I don’t know, but they are showing true grit for trying and God Bless,em, every one.
Greentechmedia ran a story this past week called “A Balloon in The Wind (Market).” It’s an interesting story by a pleasant chap named Tyler Hamilton. He talks about how Megenn Power hopes to prove its airship technology. It seems this Canadian upstart (remember when Microsoft was an upstart) wants dramatically to shift how wind energy is captured.
The system carries the acronym MARS, and it is a
“ground- tethered and oddly designed blimp that generates electricity by spinning on its horizontal axis in the wind. Rivard (company owner), during a cell-phone interview at the test site, described it as a floating white sausage mounted with riverboat blades.”
Greentechmedia, June 14, 2008.
This airship is designed to float on the wind between 600 and 1000 feet. The company explains that when fully commercialized, the airship will have power capacities ranging from 10 kilowatts to several megawatts.
Good job, folks. More power to ya.
And speaking of more power, look to Nevada-based Mariah Power for a propeller-free turbine. CEO Mike Hess uses a 30 foot tower that has a two foot radius. He claims that in a twenty year life span, the turbine will bring electricity cost down to 12.4 cents per kilowatt-hour compared with 22.6 per kilowatt-hour for propeller systems and 36 cents for solar powered systems.
The company reveals an electronic braking system to keep the turbine from spinning faster than 5,000 revolutions per minute, which is the maximum power generating point.
The company states that the “Windspire” will cost $3995. Installation will be another thousand.
Luck to you. They call the wind Mariah, indeed.
Another Greentechmedia article mentioned Southwest Windpower. The company has been around for 21 years, but until two years ago they focused on off-grid rural spots too isolated to be connected. They went after customers needing turbines for homes, sailboats, offshore oil platforms, and remote telecommunication sites.
They now have a new turbine, the Skystream, which is aimed at grid-connected buildings on at least 1/2 acre in areas rich in wind.
The company says that it specifically designed its Skystream in order to connect its 1.9 kilowatt system to the grid. It is now easier and cheaper to accomplish that. The company states that the turbine comes with the inverter, controls and all the other parts needed to join right into the grid.
“According to the data sheet, the turbine can pay for itself in as little as five years, depending on the tower and installation costs, wind speed average, rebates, and local electricity costs.” Greentechmedia, June 14, 2008.
The world keeps on movin on. It won’t stop for any of us. Get on or get out of the way.
Read more on Is the Market Ready For These Wind Energy Developments?…
Energy Tags: alternative energy, biodiesel
- Aeroturbine – Next Generation Wind Energy
Zeeshan Minhas asked:Aero turbines can be easily considered as the next generation of small-scale wind energy generation. As most of us are aware that installing a windmill on individual basis is not preferable because of both, cost and production efficiency, and that’s why till now wind energy was limited to windy regions all over the world, other factors like noise pollution and dangers of bird killing made windmills non popular amongst many for the past 2 decades. But all this is about to change with the invention of Double-helix wind turbine, more commonly known as aero turbines. This invention of DR. Bill Becker of university Illinois & Chicago is down to earth and simple when it comes to design but the approach to harvest the wind energy is very efficient and cost effective. The propellers of these aero turbines look more like an electric beater then a blade, because these wind turbines are absolutely silent and not very large they can be easily placed on rooftops and fixed on windy edges of high raised buildings.
Aero turbines are caged in a pipe frame are light in weight, and slow moving wind energy generators so they do not propose any threat to wildlife, and work fine in heavy snow fall. Hence special zoning, code exemptions or high insurance rates are not required for installing these wind machines. With two different types of propellers infused in the same structure aero turbines are efficient starters and efficient producers, at the same time. The inner savonius wind blades are efficient starters, with low production rate and start working in wind speed as low as 6mph, no matter if the wind is gusting and irregular or non directional, while the outer Darius wind blades start working in high winds, though these blades are poor starter but efficient producers, and can continue to generate electricity up to 70 mph., yet there unique design prevents them from a run away in high winds.
Aerotecture International has developed two models, 510V AND 520H with a production capacity of 1kw and 1.8kw respectively. The cost of these aero turbines is $15,000 for the 510V and $21,000 for 520H, which is quite high but is expected to reduce with mass production, but the simplicity of the design has actually made it possible for many to attempt and make one for personal use. Once the technology hits China, the cost should drop to as low as $ 1500 to $ 2000 a unit or may be even lower which is not bad for such a low maintenance wind turbine. It wont be a surprise to find these wind machines installed under the bridges or on the roof tops of urban sky scrapers, maybe railway stations or highways to full fill the never ending energy needs.
Read more on Aeroturbine – Next Generation Wind Energy…
Energy Tags: alternative energy, alternative
June 3, 2010
- The Most Common Uses of Wind Energy and How You Can Exploit Them
Pete Huang asked:The wind farm located in the Californian Altamont Pass is one of the greatest examples of wind energy gathering. It contains the largest concentration of wind turbines. With 4900 turbines, the farm supplies energy to a large area. How can you capitalize from this?
Wind energy is often used to power national networks, communities, homes, farms, and industries. It’s used mostly to break even on expenses by selling energy back to companies or to completely power an area. You can use these same techniques to use at home. While you’re not using wind energy (which is fine) you can use the wind energy to sell back for cash or credit.
Coupled with solar energy, wind energy can pretty much power your home. Why? On a sunny day, the solar panels go to work and collect energy for your home to function. While that’s happening, any wind can be picked up by the wind turbine. On a rainy or cloudy day, it’s bound to be a bit windy. The turbines go to work and the solar panels don’t. So if one doesn’t work, the other will.
Another way you can use wind energy to lower your next electricity bill is to have it simply power your home. Now I don’t recommend this for those who lived in areas that are surrounded by mountains. Those places really don’t get much wind in most times, which contradicts your purpose for getting turbines in the first places. If you have those mountains but you live in a break between them, do install turbines. There is always wind there as you may have noticed. The air pressure from outside the mountain ring forces itself in and that creates wind.
Read more on The Most Common Uses of Wind Energy and How You Can Exploit Them…
Energy Tags: alternative, battery technology
June 2, 2010
- Let Homemade Wind Generator Power Work For You
One great case in point would be by means of the utilization of homebuilt wind generator power. This may appear difficult at first but after taking the initial few steps, you’ll realize just how simply it can be done.
May 28, 2010
- Affordable Solar and Wind Energy Systems
Lars Henderson asked:The rising price of power has hit everyone in recent years, and especially recent months. Homeowners everywhere have seen their power bills increase and often have had to cut back spending on other things because power isn’t very affordable. The answer is affordable solar and wind energy systems.
The power that you use at home comes from burning nonrenewable energy sources, such as coal and natural gas, or by exploiting the dangerous nuclear power of uranium, which is also nonrenewable. While they are polluting the environment, the resources that power our houses and our lives are dwindling down, and experts don’t know how much longer they’ll last.
Alternative power sources like solar and wind energy systems promise to change all of that by providing clean and affordable energy by harnessing the power that is all around us all of the time. But so far, the “affordable” part has been very difficult to come by. In the last few decades the prices of solar and wind energy systems have kept them out of most residential applications like powering houses. Now, as we work our way into the twenty-first century, the materials to build these alternative energy sources are within the reach of most homeowners. Unfortunately, most people don’t know that they can now afford to run their houses on solar power or wind power.
There’s even profit to be made with alternative energy sources. Did you know that the power company will buy your extra power, if you are creating more than you can use? Of course, many people who adopt serious solar and wind energy systems choose to go ‘off the grid’ and not be hooked up to a power company’s network at all. Lots of people are doing this now that the materials for solar and wind energy systems are becoming truly affordable by almost all homeowners.
So how does one obtain these affordable solar and wind energy systems? The prices for these systems are coming down every year, but they’re still out of the range of most people for residential use. For truly affordable alternative energy systems you can build them yourself. Before you get scared off, know that it’s a simple process that can be done by people at all skill levels, and thanks to recent advances in technology all of the necessary parts are easily obtained. Right now home made energy sources are the only solution to the problem of affordable solar and wind energy systems.
Read more on Affordable Solar and Wind Energy Systems…
Energy Tags: hybrid cars, alternative energy
May 25, 2010
- Thinking About The Price Of Wind Energy
The cost of wind energy tends to be the first matter that may come to mind when this topic is raised. Harnessing energy is a costly matter, and thus it is generally a deciding factor to whether folks will look to these alternative sources of energy. While there’s certainly a up-front expenditure for the equipment required, the expenses concerned will sort themselves out and rapidly you will see the monetary benefits of wind-powered energy. It’s a wonderful idea for a backup to a main power supply, and with the right kit you’ll be able to fully transform how you harness energy and claim your place in the records of environmental thinking and conservationism. Most of the cost of wind energy is an one-time deal, and aside from the occasional repair bill, there aren’t many other costs to consider, making it very economical to run as well as being environmentally sound. The cost of wind energy is small, as you will soon be aware.
The opening cost of wind energy is naturally somewhat daunting to some folks, yet while the fiscal issue of erecting a wind farm can seem disproportionate, the payback vis energy is tough to deny. Customarily, a bigger wind farm is cheaper to form than a tiny one, however wierd that may seem at first. Remember, the more turbines at your disposal, then the larger the quantity of energy generated, and the cost of wind energy is then reduced.
Additionally, the Cost Of Wind Energy turbine technology has fallen in recent years, making it an increasingly attractive concept. Different factors to take into consideration are legal matters, placement, planning permissions and any place- specific issues that must be sorted out. Wind generated energy has the potential to be very helpful to the environment with your bank account, and it is being utilized moreand more by private home-owners as well as companies who want to see exactly what the Cost Of Wind Energy is able to for them.
Read more on Thinking About The Price Of Wind Energy…
Energy Tags: battery technology, biodiesel
May 21, 2010
- Homemade Wind Turbine Energy
Renewable energy is now easier and more affordable for the everyday handyman to make than ever before. By building your own homemade wind turbine, you can save thousands of dollars versus buying a new wind turbine kit.
- Wind Energy – New York
Richard Chapo asked:When people think of states using alternative energy, New York probable does not come to mind. In fact, the state is proactive in the area. Here is a guide to wind energy in New York.
Wind Energy – New York
One of the places in the United States with the highest amount of energy consumption is New York. With the country’s largest city, New York City, being located here, and a large population of households – New York is constantly trying to find new and more economical ways to provide energy to the residents of the state. One new way that the state is trying to satisfy these energy needs is through wind energy, New York’s fastest growing way of producing electricity.
The amount of wind energy New York produces is enough to rank it 15th among the states in the US. New York has the potential to output 7,080 kilowatt (KW) of energy yearly, which is quite a large amount – if you think of the fact that each KW is enough to energy about 300 homes. Currently, New York has commercial wind farms set up in eight areas of the state, with two more wind projects planned for the near future. The state is producing 280 KW per year right now, with 235 KW more being proposed in new projects.
The oldest wind farm in New York is located in Madison County, which is in upstate New York. Opened in 2000, the Madison Wind area produces 11.5 KW of electricity per year, and this electricity is purchased on the open market, which means that consumers are getting some of their energy from this wind farm. This farm is home to seven wind turbines, which is a small amount compared to New York State’s largest wind farm. The largest wind project in the state is known as Maple Ridge Wind Farm, and it’s located in Tug Hill, a town in Lewis County, New York.
The Maple Ridge Wind Farm is run by the companies PPM Atlantic Renewable and Horizon Wind Energy, and it houses 120 wind turbines. The wind farm was built over two years, 2005 and 2006, and it produces 198 MW of energy per year (that’s enough to run over 59,000 households). This wind is also consumed by average consumers in the state, and the Maple Ridge Wind Farm also has additions planned to the area, as well as one addition of 20 wind turbines that were added in 2006.
As the wind energy New York develops grows, so do the number of people that benefit from cheaper, cleaner electricity. New York has also proposed having an off-shore wind farm, which would be unique for the area – and would add a lot of potential wind energy.
Read more on Wind Energy – New York…
Energy Tags: solar power, alternative energy
May 16, 2010
- Using Wind Energy As a Renewable Energy
Dowl White asked:Using renewable energy sources becomes more and more important every day as the energy demand of the world gets bigger and the classical sources for energy (such as fossil fuels) get lesser and lesser every day. Another important contributing factor is the rising costs of energy all over the world. Hence the demand for environment friendly renewable energy sources grows exponentially every year. One of the most “environmentally friendly” and cheap renewable energy source is definitely wind energy as a renewable energy form.
The question of how to make wind power is a fairly easy one. The first principle in making wind power is definitely harnessing the power of the wind through wind mills. This is an ancient method as it has been used for thousands of years (since the time of the ancient Egyptians) to grind wheat and to power their boats etc. However, in the beginning of the 20th century, wind power and wind mills were used to generate electricity in the United States. Hence, the concept of using electricity from wind started early in the 20th century.
In order to build a windmill generator, the first rule of thumb is the fact that you need a place with lots of wind in order to make it worthwhile and efficient. If you look over the concept of wind power generation; you will see that wind is usually more stronger in mountain tops, near coastal desert areas and near hill tops that do not have a wind breaker. Then this wind energy is harnessed through a wind turbine. In essence, a wind turbine generates electricity by the mechanical motion of the mills caused by the wind. Hence, as long as the mills turn due to the wind, you will continue to generate electricity from your wind turbine.
It is possible to create wind farms by putting massive number of windmills on a geometric pattern to create more electricity. Although for homes putting a windmill may be more costly then a solar generator; in the end, the cost of producing electricity by wind power is much more lower than solar power and other types of renewable energy sources.
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Energy Tags: solar power, clean energy
May 15, 2010
- Sun and Wind Energy For the Home
Orlando Orengo asked:How would you like to eliminate your electric bill? (And still have power!) Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Well, it’s possible if you learn how to make and use your very own solar energy system.
Most Americans aren’t aware that over 93% of our energy that we use comes from non-renewable resources. This is devastating to our environment. In the same manner as oil for our cars, we will eventually run out of energy sources if we do not come up with a natural way to power our homes and businesses. Yet, the energy companies have not even made this information public. A possible reason for this is that they do not want you to know how easy it would be for you to create your own solar or wind energy and get rid of your electric bill all together!
Creating your own renewable solar energy systems will save you hundreds of dollars per month on your electric bill. That’s over a thousand dollars per year! And since building one will only cost you around $200, it will pay for itself within two months! It will also greatly benefit the economy when you are spending that extra money you are saving on other things.
For the cost of two electric bills, you could “fire” your electric company for good! Building a wind or solar energy systems takes little effort. There are guides that provide step by step, easy to follow instructions that provide you with everything you need to create your own energy generator. It is actually fun to do. Everything you need is available at your local hardware store and the completed project produces a professional looking windmill or solar panel that will generate all of the electricity needed to power your house or business.
Imagine the money you will save over time! It is well worth it to invest in solar energy systems. You will help the environment, the economy, and yourself!
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Energy Tags: solar energy, hybrid cars
May 11, 2010
- Wind Power Basics – Renewable Energy at Home
Anthony Dempster asked:As growing worldwide energy demands place more strain on our electricity supplies, it is more important than ever that we look for was to conserve energy in our home. Even more effective than this though is looking for ways to generate our own electricity. Pollution-free energy and cost-effective energy solutions for our houses have never been more important. Solar energy and wind energy are the most effective ways to reduce the use of traditional electricity suppliers.
These solutions can help the fight against power failures, dramatically reduce our electricity bills and also help the environment. Today I will look at wind energy.
Wind energy solutions work best if the following conditions are met:
* Your house or farm house is spread over a wide area – ideally an acre or more.
* The average wind speed in your area is about 11 miles per hour. If you are in an area with little windflow the system may not work.
A typical system of wind energy consists of a tower with 3 to 5 blades to capture the wind energy. In low wind areas the tower will be taller, while in higher wind areas it will be lower – this is due to wind strength generally being stronger the higher it is above the ground (due to less obstacles).
The electricity generated by the wind propellor / turbine is converted into electricity and then can either be sent to a bank of batteries and/or to power your electrical applicances. The most practical use to setup a bank of batteries – this stores power to be used in times when the wind isn’t blowing, and guarantees you’ll have power should the electricity network ever go down. Extra charge not needed for the batteries or for appliances can be diverted towards heating or lighting so that it’s not totally wasted.
Pollution free, clean green, carbon positive, renewable energy – all these terms and more describe wind energy, the power of the future.
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Energy Tags: battery technology, clean energy
April 27, 2010
- Obama And McCain on Wind Power Energy Use – Where Do They Stand?
Evangeline Cortez asked:Barack Obama, Democratic Presidential candidate, and John McCain, the Republican contender both continue to address major issues on energy. The topic of Obama versus McCain on Wind Energy Use is quickly gaining increased attention from constituents. Senator Obama has stressed his proposal that the United States sell oil coming from its strategic reserve in the hopes of lowering gasoline prices. He is also pressing for the utilization of alternative sources of energy. Senator McCain, on the other hand, gears towards offshore drilling and an expanded utilization of nuclear power instead. Apparently, Obama is against expanded nuclear power exploration and investment. He has proposed a windfall profits tax policy which will result to a lowered supply and raised prices. Experts have stated that this policy have already been implemented during the Carter administration and it did not work. What is needed instead is higher supply and decreased consumption.
The good news, however, on the whole issue of Obama versus McCain on wind energy use is that no matter who wins the election, the so-called green energy industry will surely be on the winner’s side. Obama focuses on the issues of oil. Last October 2007, he had said that when he becomes President, he will help automobile manufacturers to retool their factories in order for the latter to manufacture cars that will use lesser oil. McCain, on the other hand, has leaned more towards using wind power. This is apparent in his desire to cut down greenhouse gas emissions. It is known for its pollution-free nature. Unlike fossil fuels, wind power usage does not emit greenhouse gas. Obama, however, also supports the cap and trade policy for a system that will cut down greenhouse gas emissions.
Development to use wind power is an endeavor the new president must look into. Central to this issue of Obama and McCain is the fact that a vast part of the United States is actually prime resource. Canada and Europe are world leaders of wind power projects. Other countries are also looking into building production facilities in the United States. The major wind turbine manufacturers in other world regions have already explored this. This is because the expenses that may be incurred in building the wind turbine systems in the US are far lesser compared to building the wind turbines overseas and then shipping them. These systems are a leading projects in the green energy system that promises to support whoever will win in the Obama versus McCain presidential elections. Another area of the green energy system is the solar thermal power plants. Although the entire Obama versus McCain on wind energy use issue can be a strain, it is at the very least still comforting to know that the country can depend on the green energy system to address the pressing concerns of oil and wind power problems that have arose and may be arising.
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Energy Tags: wind power, energy
- Wind Energy As a Means to Produce Electricity
Dowl White asked:If you are looking for a usable and alternative source of energy then perhaps wind is the best source of power that you can find. Wind is a natural phenomenon that has been around since the creation of our world and it will continue to be present until the sun diminishes and our world is destroyed. In order to understand the wind, we have to understand that land heats up more slowly then water. Hence during daytime, the land will heat up and the temperature will increase due to laws of physics. This hot air will be replaced by cold air that is generated on top of water bodies. Hence this cooler air will try to displace the hotter air over land and thus wind will be formed.
The important thing is to answer the question of how to make wind power work for you? During the out course of the history, the wind power was harnessed through the use of windmills. These windmills were mainly used for grinding and also working mills for industrial production etc. However, the real use of wind power can be derived by using it to generate electricity. As you know, electricity is the most common type of usable power in the world, as it is used to power our systems both domestically and commercially. Life without electricity in the 21st century would be unthinkable.
The concept of using wind energy as a means to produce electricity is an old idea. It was first implemented in the United States during the beginning of the 21st century. The wind mills were used to generate electricity by the use of a simple turbine that translated the electromechanical axial motion of the blades to electricity much in the same way in which a converter generates electric through the motion of the wheels in your car.
Using wind turbines to power your water systems, and your communication systems is a viable option in rural areas and in farms etc. However, the geographical location of the wind mill is important as it must be a windy area. But if the conditions are favorable, you can easily make your own electricity to provide power for your appliances.
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Energy Tags: alternative, battery technology
April 26, 2010
- How Does Wind Energy Work?
Jenney Pan asked:What Is Wind Energy
What is wind energy? Wind is simply air in motion. Sun’s rays falling on an object heat it up; land heats up faster (and it cools also faster), water heats up slower (and is slower in cooling). Naturally there will be uneven heating of the earth’s surface. During the day, land heats up and the warm air over the land gets lighter and rises up; cooler air from adjoining areas rushes in to take its place, creating breeze or wind.
So what is this about wind energy? In an elementary sense, we can say that an object represents two kinds of energy, potential energy – energy attained by it due to its position – and kinetic energy – energy due to its speed of movement. A body may possess one or both forms of energy. All moving objects represent stored kinetic energy just as an object at a height represents stored potential energy. The wind, a body of air, also represents kinetic energy. It is this wind energy that helps when you sail boats.
How Wind Energy Works
In the old fashioned windmill, wind – the stream of moving air – impinges on the blades of the windmill and causes them to rotate by “pushing” against them; in this process the wind passes part of its kinetic energy to the blades of the windmill and slows down due to loss of part of its energy. The windmill uses the wind energy acquired in this manner in doing the work of pumping water or grinding grains.
Today’s wind mill blades are designed far better so that they are able to extract energy out of the wind (or breeze) blowing over it more efficiently. It is natural that blades of a wind mill designed to produce a large amount of power are large. Windmills with blades measuring about a hundred or two hundred feet across are not uncommon.
Wind Mills And Their Locations
Most of the present day wind mills are the horizontal axis type and they look like huge airplane propellers mounted on a tall tower. The high power machines have blades with very large span and their mounting towers also are very tall; a typical wind machine of this type could be about 250 feet tall with three-bladed propellers about 200 feet across. The turbine shaft is horizontal and quite short. In case of small capacity machines the generator is mounted directly on the turbine shaft; in case of higher capacity machines the turbine shaft drives generator through gears so as to increase the speed of the generator. The electrical cables run down along the tower for delivering power.
Small wind machines for use with single homes or businesses are about 100 kW or less in power; large turbines for commercial use may be with capacities of 5 MW or more. High power installations for delivering wind energy to utility grid or network have a number of wind mills grouped together as wind mill farms.
For efficient operation a wind mill should be situated where the average wind speed is not less than 10 miles per hour. Due to the necessity of the high towers and large sweep of blades necessary, generally wind mills for power applications will not be set up in areas of less than an acre.
Power plants for converting wind energy are generally situated far away from cities. They are set up where wind speed will be high, where obstructions to wind will be less and where seasonal variations will be less. Generally wind speeds are higher at higher altitudes and in open areas. Smooth rounded hills, open plains and shorelines are good sites for wind mills. Mountain gaps are also suitable because they cause wind funneling increasing the speed of wind.
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Energy Tags: battery technology, alternative
