Green Products Takes A Look At the Next Generation Of Windmills
Finally, at Green Products we have found there is a new generation of reliable windmills that can be mass-produced and appropriate for consumer installations. This new generation of windmills has overcome many of the problems that plagued the first and second-generation windmills. Problems like turbine failure, blade failure, part shipments, and special services that were needed to fix these older-style windmills.
Today’s designs are lighter, stronger and more reliable than in the last 20 years. Most of the leading manufacturers are offering a five-year manufacturer’s warranty. Most state the turbine will last 20+ years with normal service.
The concept has been refined with a device called a net meter. The net meter takes a combination of inputs — one set from the power company and the other from your windmill. When the electricity is combined at the meter this will determine which way the meter will rotate.
The net meter is designed to rotate in either direction. When it rotates clockwise, you are storing electricity for future use. When the meter is rotating counter-clockwise, you are being charged for electricity. If at the end of your billing cycle you have put more in reserve than you used, you won’t be billed for that month. Now that would be nice!
The risks are mostly financial. The main areas of concern are: not enough wind and possible equipment failure. In both cases, the propeller is not turning and no power is generated. Unlike solar though, the wind can theoretically be blowing 24 hours a day, and every minute the propeller is turning means more in the electrical bank.
One of the nice offsets is the rebates and tax credits you will get for installing a unit. In some cases, $11,000 or more is paid to you to offset the cost of the windmill. In California, this could bring the cost of install down to around 4,600 dollars.
In order to install one, your must first check to see if your have the space the unit will need. Then, will local code allow you to erect a 35-50 foot monopole? And finally, does the city have codes in place to prevent the installation (and/or prohibitive fees)? This could be a godsend for a small farm or a business in an unincorporated section of town.
Let’s look at getting off the electrical grid in our next Green Products article.
Michael
