Current Wind Turbines

One of the most promising renewable energy sources is considered to be the wind energy, captured through wind turbines.

Information on wind power and on wind technologies is readily available on the internet and on the media.

If you are less familiar with wind technologies a fine starting point can be found in the links section.

Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines – HAWT

• Dominant design for wind turbines

• Proven technology for commercial use

• The current commercial wind turbines are huge three-blade propellers with a rotating diameter of more than 80m, held at a higher elevation via a 50m tall tower. Such commercial wind turbines are usually regrouped in “wind farms” outside residential or commercial areas, and connected to the existing power grid, as the produced electricity is sold to the electric utilities.

Vertical Axis Wind Turbines – VAWT

• Mainly the current VAWT are derived from one of the two major concepts for the VAWT: lift based (Darrius) and drag based (Savonius) turbines.

• Operate from any wind directions

• Can operate in high winds

• Are less sensitive to turbulences than HAWT

If you are in an urban area and you are in search for a solution to reduce your energy bills the current wind technologies may not be quite the answer that you are looking for.

Before planning to install a current wind technology in urban areas, you should consider their:

• High installation costs
• Total cost >$5000/kW installed
• Return of investment higher than 25 Yrs, which may be higher
   than the life of the turbine.
• Price/kWh much higher than utility price
• Limited efficiency in turbulence; generally lower than 25%
   over the year
• Noise level
• Aesthetics and likeliness to get a municipal permit for installation.

Links:

Guided Tour on Wind Energy, Danish Wind Industry Association
www.windpower.org/en/tour/wres/index.htm

CanWEA's SMALL WIND ENERGY website
www.smallwindenergy.ca/en/SmallWind.html

Home Power Magazine
www.homepower.com

American Wind Energy Association
www.awea.org

U.S. Department of Energy Technologies, Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy
www.eere.energy.gov

Canadian Wind Energy Atlas
www.windatlas.ca/en/index.php