PDF《Small Wind Electric Systems》

Small Wind Electric Systems A U.

S. Consumer'

s Guide Small Wind Electric Systems Location―A home in Charlotte, Vermont Capacity―10 kilowatts Turbine manufacturer―Bergey Windpower Company Photo credit―Trudy Forsyth, NREL/PIX09123 Location ― Wales Wind Energy Project, Wales, Alaska Capacity ― 0.1 MW Turbine manufacturer ― Atlantic Orient Corporation Developer ― Kotzebue Electric Association Photo credit ― Steve Drouilhet, NREL/PIX09674 Capacity―10 kilowatts Turbine manufacturer―Bergey Windpower Company Photo credit―Bergey Windpower Company, NREL/PIX02102 Location―A ranch near Wheeler, Texas Capacity―1 kilowatt Turbine manufacturer―Southwest WindPower Photo Credit―Elliott Bayly/PIX07169 Location ― A farm in western Kansas Capacity ―

10 kilowatts Turbine manufacturer ― Bergey Windpower Company Photo credit ― Warren Gretz, NREL/PIX09618 Location―A cabin in South Park, Colorado Capacity―600 watt Turbine manufacturer―Southwest WindPower Photo credit―E. McKenna, NREL/PIX04712 Small Wind Electric Systems Contents Introduction

1 First, How Can I Make My Home More Energy Efficient?2 Is Wind Energy Practical for Me?3 What Size Wind Turbine Do I Need?4 What are the Basic Parts of a Small Wind Electric System?5 What Do Wind Systems Cost?7 Where Can I Find Installation and Maintenance Support?8 How Much Energy Will My System Generate?9 Is There Enough Wind on My Site?11 How Do I Choose the Best Site for My Wind Turbine?14 Can I Connect My System to the Utility Grid?15 Can I Go Off-Grid

19 Glossary of Terms

21 For More Information

22 Small Wind Electric Systems A U.S. Consumer'

s Guide Homeowners, ranchers, and small businesses can use wind- generated electricity to reduce their utility bills. This grid- connected system installed for a home in Norman, Oklahoma, reduces the homeowner'

s utility bill by $100 per month. Bergey Windpower/PIX01476 Introduction Can I use wind energy to power my home? This question is being asked across the country as more people look for affordable and reliable sourc- es of electricity. Small wind electric systems can make a significant contribution to our nation'

s energy needs. Although wind turbines large enough to provide a significant portion of the electricity needed by the average U.S. home gen- erally require one acre of property or more, approximately 21?million U.S. homes are built on one-acre and larger sites, and 24% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas. A small wind electric system will work for you if: ? There is enough wind where you live ? Tall towers are allowed in your neighborhood or rural area ? You have enough space ? You can determine how much electricity you need or want to produce ? It works for you economically. The purpose of this guide is to pro- vide you with the basic information about small wind electric systems to help you decide if wind energy will work for you. Why Should I Choose Wind? Wind energy systems are one of the most cost-effective home- based renewable energy systems. Depending on your wind resource, a Small Wind Electric Systems small wind energy system can lower your electricity bill by 50% to 90%, help you avoid the high costs of extending utility power lines to remote locations, prevent power interruptions, and it is nonpolluting. How Do Wind Turbines Work? Wind is created by the unequal heat- ing of the Earth'

s surface by the sun. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in wind into mechanical power that runs a generator to produce clean electricity. Today'