Why Wind Power?
Who wouldn’t want free electricity? Of course, we all would. The most intriguing aspect of wind power is that it appears to offer just that.
There is an up front cost for the equipment and its installation which can be considerable but when that cost and its service life are considered, it is possible to get “free” electricity after several years. Wind powered generators can last for decades with very little maintenance.
There are many benefits to wind power besides the free electricity. It is one of the greenest energy resources available and is continuously renewable with no additional inputs from humans. There is really no downside to the environment from harnessing the power of the wind.
Unlike hydroelectric power, wind power doesn’t affect the breeding habits of indigenous wildlife. Some would argue that the number of birds killed by wind powered generators could be a problem but it is doubtful that there would ever be a measurable impact to the avian population.
Wind powered generators are also less costly than the equivalent solar energy installation for any given amount of power. This is especially true as the power generation requirements of an installation rise.
Although the up front costs of a wind powered generator installation can be quite high, there are possible incentives that can make it more economical. Some power companies will offer low cost, long term financing for wind turbines. Additionally they will also allow excess power to be sold back to the utility for credit on the customer’s bill. This allows for a less expensive and less complex installation. A large bank of batteries for storage isn’t required for an installation such as this. The generator can be hooked directly to the power company’s infrastructure with special wiring and circuits.
There is also the potential for tax credits and other credits from government programs to help offset the cost.
Of course for some installations, wind powered generators offer the possibility of providing power where none would be available otherwise. For remote locations with small power requirements, wind turbines can easily be the most economical solution. Wind turbines can also be installed in places where nothing else of use can be installed such as in the ocean.
For many reasons, wind power will continue to grow in popularity and its installed base will continue to grow. At this time it offers possibly the best combination of costs and tradeoffs versus the amount of power it can provide.
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What is wind power?
Wind power has been used to do work for hundreds of years. Only recently is it starting to enjoy a renaissance for its capacity to generate renewable energy. Generating electrical power by harnessing the wind is becoming cost effective and is extremely efficient once the initial investment is made.
Wind and the sun are two constants in our everyday lives and for that reason they represent the potential “Holy Grail” of renewable energy. It’s virtually guaranteed that every day, the wind will blow; more in some places, less in others.
Wind powered generators are fairly simple mechanisms that generate electrical power by converting the straight line motion of wind to a rotational force that can be used to drive a standard type of electrical generator. This generator is typically optimized to perform efficiently at the speeds that the blades can turn it with a given wind speed.
As little as a five mile per hour breezed can generate significant power. Wind powered generators can be built to withstand even the strongest wind speeds although they will generally not generate much power at those levels. Modern wind turbines are built to change the pitch of their blades or turn away from the wind when speeds become excessive.
There are many areas that are more suited to wind power than other places. The midwest with its wide open plains holds tremendous potential for wind as a source of power. Coastal waters are also a good source for large scale wind power generation.
One of the great benefits of wind power is that it can be applied on a small scale, such as in residential home, and still generate significant amounts of power in an efficient way. Residential wind powered generators can meet the power requirements of a single family in many areas of the
Electricity generated from wind and solar power not only represents the next big thing in renewable energy but also offers the potential for the individual to gain control over their power service and to reap the rewards of a clean, natural, renewable energy without having to depend on a large company and infrastructure to supply them. Wind powered generators are well suited to some residential applications.
Of all the potential renewable energy sources, wind is possibly the cheapest and most efficient source. Wind powered generators are the key to harnessing this resource.
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