Wind turbines are normally associated with huge wind farms on top of hills where hundreds of gigantic windmills churn out vast quantities of renewable energy on an industrial scale. Well, that is certainly the case but there is also another side to wind turbine technology, and that is the small DIY vertical wind turbine that can be used to power your home on a small scale.
These small scale wind turbines are now quite straightforward to make and, thanks to advances in technology, they are very efficient, reliable and cost effective. So, if you fancy a lifetimes free supply of renewable electricity, and also the knowledge that you are helping protect the environment then there''s never been a better time to try your hand at building one.
However, like any construction project its best to consider a few things before you embark on building your shiny new DIY vertical wind turbine.
1.
How Windy is it?Yes, its a basic point but one that's very easy to overlook. Most people like to moan about the weather and how hot/cold/windy/foggy it always is but you might be surprised just how settled your average weather can be, especially if you live inland away from the coast. Its recommended that you have an average of about 11 knots of wind to power a turbine efficiently. If you don't get that much, then you might need to consider making the tower higher or relocating it elsewhere on your land.
2. How Big is Your Land?
Wind turbines are normally best situated in large flat areas or even better on top of a hill to get the best airflow. Buildings that are nearby can deflect the wind upwards thus reducing the airspeed so its best not to place a turbine near them if possible. Of course, one solution is to attach the wind turbine to a solid structure say a large chimney or wind facing gable end.
3. When Do I Use Most Power?
It's unlikely that you will be able to get rid of your mains electricity supply entirely for there are peak loading times in most households and most of us don't wait for windy periods to switch the TV on. You will need to consider how many batteries you will need to meet your demands and have a fail safe system in place in case the wind turbine supply cuts out.
4. What Else Could the Turbine Be Used for?
Of course, wind turbines are not just great for generating clean power they can also be harnessed to pump water and other tasks, just look at any farmhouse and you will see evidence of this.
If you take all of these things into consideration before you start building your DIY vertical wind turbine then you will be able to get a feel for how much money you will be required to invest and how big the turbine will need to be. It may be that its just not economically viable for you to do this at all, but keep in mind that a well constructed turbine will provide you with free power for many years and will require little to no maintenance.
4 Things to Consider Before Building a DIY Vertical Wind Turbine