Vertical Axis Wind Turbines
By Pat Herron
People have been harnessing the wind's power for centuries to pump water and perform other mechanical tasks. But it's only been in the last few decades that the expertise for converting the wind's energy into electricity has made the necessary strides to become an alternative source for energy production. Most of this technology has been applied to large scale operations and some smaller units for home use.
For the home owner interested in producing their own electricity, choices have been limited primarily to investing in a horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT). These units can carry a hefty price including the installation of a large tower, maintenance, plus the regulation in some areas regarding tower height, noise concerns and environmental issues.
For city dwellers with no place to erect a HAWT, wind power has not been an option at all. The vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) provides a more economical alternative for the small scale user. Some of the most recent designs have overcome the problems of early models such as their inability to self-start in light winds plus issues of noise and vibration levels. Most of the new technology works well in an urban or suburban environment where some wind turbulence is inevitable unless the turbine is sited well above any surrounding buildings.
A HAWT has to physically rotate to face into the wind every time the direction changes, requiring a large tower to place the rotors above all obstructions. The VAWT doesn't require such clearances and can keep producing power in these turbulent areas.
Most vertical axis wind turbines are very silent, emitting only a slight humming sound near the equipment. The turbines turn at a lower speed unlike the larger tower turbines where the blade tips can travel at supersonic speeds becoming a threat to bats and birds traveling thru them. For these reasons they are safe to use in population centers, public spaces, parks, wildlife parks and on buildings. Some of the more adventurous designs have the look of sculpture adding another dimension to your installation.
The VAWT systems have a larger wind speed range and are able to self start in light winds, sometimes 2-3 meters per second, and continue producing electricity at much higher wind levels than the traditional HAWT units.
If you are considering alternative energy sources to lower your utility bills or to minimize your impact on the environment, vertical axis wind turbines offer new technology that can help you achieve your goals.
Pat Herron is an environmental activist concerned with our energy choices and the effects they have on our world. More information can be found at http://small-scale-wind-energy.blogspot.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pat_Herron
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Texas Wind Energy
By Richard Chapo
If every there was a state associated with oil, it is Texas. Given this association, many people are surprised to learn wind energy is popular in the state. Here is a guide to Texas wind energy.
Texas Wind Energy
Wind energy is a growing industry in the United States. In the year 2004 alone, the quantity of energy that was generated by wind energy plants (wind farms) amounted to 6,720 megawatts (MW). Additionally, the US has spent about $7 billion dollars on the installation of these wind turbines and wind farms, meaning that wind energy has become a big industry. Fortune 500 companies as well as other big financial and energy companies have become major players in the wind energy arena. There are many different states throughout the country that are involved in wind energy and energy, but Texas wind energy is some of the most abundant.
Texas wind energy was long considered to be a perfect solution for the state's energy needs, as well as the US's total energy needs. Texas is currently the largest wind energy producer in the United States, providing enough energy to energy 600,000 average size homes a year. Texas is also home to the US's first off-shore wind farms, along the Gulf Coast, as well as the largest wind turbines in the country. There are currently about 1,600 wind farms that are located in West Texas alone, with additional wind farms located in the wind-rich areas of the High Plains and along the Gulf Coast.
The United States Department of Energy recently completed a study that found that the high wind energy states of Texas, North Dakota and Kansas could feasibly create enough energy through wind farms to satisfy the entire country's electricity needs. Wind energy as an energy source has increased more than four times in the years between 1999 and 2005, and it is now on a par with both coal- powered and natural gas-fired energy plants.
One huge beneficiary from the profits that wind farms can generate are the schools of the state of Texas. Each year, these schools earn millions of dollars from wind energy that's generated on state land – the amount of money depending on how many megawatts of energy are produced as well as the current price of electricity. This money, as it is earned, is placed in the Texas Permanent School Fund, and this fund is expected to earn $300 million over the next 20 years.
Texas wind energy is not only a great source of ecologically friendly, renewable energy – it's also a great economic boost to the state. Besides being cheaper to use, the revenue created from selling the energy harnessed on state land goes directly to the school system in the state.
Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com - providing wind farm information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Chapo
By Richard Chapo
If every there was a state associated with oil, it is Texas. Given this association, many people are surprised to learn wind energy is popular in the state. Here is a guide to Texas wind energy.
Texas Wind Energy
Wind energy is a growing industry in the United States. In the year 2004 alone, the quantity of energy that was generated by wind energy plants (wind farms) amounted to 6,720 megawatts (MW). Additionally, the US has spent about $7 billion dollars on the installation of these wind turbines and wind farms, meaning that wind energy has become a big industry. Fortune 500 companies as well as other big financial and energy companies have become major players in the wind energy arena. There are many different states throughout the country that are involved in wind energy and energy, but Texas wind energy is some of the most abundant.
Texas wind energy was long considered to be a perfect solution for the state's energy needs, as well as the US's total energy needs. Texas is currently the largest wind energy producer in the United States, providing enough energy to energy 600,000 average size homes a year. Texas is also home to the US's first off-shore wind farms, along the Gulf Coast, as well as the largest wind turbines in the country. There are currently about 1,600 wind farms that are located in West Texas alone, with additional wind farms located in the wind-rich areas of the High Plains and along the Gulf Coast.
The United States Department of Energy recently completed a study that found that the high wind energy states of Texas, North Dakota and Kansas could feasibly create enough energy through wind farms to satisfy the entire country's electricity needs. Wind energy as an energy source has increased more than four times in the years between 1999 and 2005, and it is now on a par with both coal- powered and natural gas-fired energy plants.
One huge beneficiary from the profits that wind farms can generate are the schools of the state of Texas. Each year, these schools earn millions of dollars from wind energy that's generated on state land – the amount of money depending on how many megawatts of energy are produced as well as the current price of electricity. This money, as it is earned, is placed in the Texas Permanent School Fund, and this fund is expected to earn $300 million over the next 20 years.
Texas wind energy is not only a great source of ecologically friendly, renewable energy – it's also a great economic boost to the state. Besides being cheaper to use, the revenue created from selling the energy harnessed on state land goes directly to the school system in the state.
Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com - providing wind farm information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Chapo
Working With The Power Of Wind
By James Copper
Wind power is growing in popularity as an alternative to fossil fuel and one of the best of the renewable energy sources. The use of wind power requires wind turbines. Wind turbine generators do little to harm the environment and are far preferable in this regard to fossil fuel. The only disadvantage is that they cannot be used everywhere. In order to effectively use turbines to generate wind power you would need an average wind speed of at least 13 miles per hour. Obviously, that is not found everywhere.
Palm Springs California is ideal for wind turbines that generate power and as you pass through there along highway 10 you will see these wind turbines in various sizes. Called a wind farm, This San Bernadino Mountain area has over 4000 windmills in its San Gorgonio Mountain Pass. These turbines provide enough wind power to provide electricity to all of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley area as a whole. Most of the current wind power generation in the U.S. resides in California.
The largest of the wind power windmills is 150 feet in height with blades that stretch halfway across a football field. There are compartments at the windmills top that house its generators, its hub and its gearbox. These weigh at least 30,000 and as much as 45,000 pounds. At this size the turbine for wind power may cost more than 300,000 but will provide 300 kilowatts each hour. This amount of wind power is enough to keep one typical household in electrical power for an entire month.
The American Wind Energy Association AWEA is a U.S. - wide non-profit organization promoting wind power as a clean electrical source for consumers the world over. AWEA represents developers of wind power projects, those who are in the business of supplying wind power equipment, wind power service providers, manufacturers of wind power parts, utilities that provide wind power for electrical power, scientists researching green energy resources that include the use of wind power and others involved in any way in the wind power industry. Hundreds of advocates of wind power are also members of AWEA.
The American Wind Energy Association provides the latest information on the operation of current or potential wind power projects, the ongoing development of new wind power projects, companies who work in the burgeoning industry, the development of new wind energy technology, and government legislation and policies that pertain to the use, production and funding of wind power and other renewable energies.
AWEA acts as a clearing house for the wind power industry, and as such communicates the pertinent statistics, facts and news. From AWEA consumers and others can find out the latest legislative decisions and efforts, including the best information on grants and loans to aid in the implementation of residential, commercial and governmental wind power projects.
AWEA publishes and disseminates the only weekly wind power newsletter that exists anywhere. It also hosts an annual wind power conference, with presentations on the latest technological developments and trends as well as access to businesses offering help in its implementation.
James Copper is a writer for http://www.newcareerskills.co.uk/domestic-energy-assessor-training.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Copper
By James Copper
Wind power is growing in popularity as an alternative to fossil fuel and one of the best of the renewable energy sources. The use of wind power requires wind turbines. Wind turbine generators do little to harm the environment and are far preferable in this regard to fossil fuel. The only disadvantage is that they cannot be used everywhere. In order to effectively use turbines to generate wind power you would need an average wind speed of at least 13 miles per hour. Obviously, that is not found everywhere.
Palm Springs California is ideal for wind turbines that generate power and as you pass through there along highway 10 you will see these wind turbines in various sizes. Called a wind farm, This San Bernadino Mountain area has over 4000 windmills in its San Gorgonio Mountain Pass. These turbines provide enough wind power to provide electricity to all of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley area as a whole. Most of the current wind power generation in the U.S. resides in California.
The largest of the wind power windmills is 150 feet in height with blades that stretch halfway across a football field. There are compartments at the windmills top that house its generators, its hub and its gearbox. These weigh at least 30,000 and as much as 45,000 pounds. At this size the turbine for wind power may cost more than 300,000 but will provide 300 kilowatts each hour. This amount of wind power is enough to keep one typical household in electrical power for an entire month.
The American Wind Energy Association AWEA is a U.S. - wide non-profit organization promoting wind power as a clean electrical source for consumers the world over. AWEA represents developers of wind power projects, those who are in the business of supplying wind power equipment, wind power service providers, manufacturers of wind power parts, utilities that provide wind power for electrical power, scientists researching green energy resources that include the use of wind power and others involved in any way in the wind power industry. Hundreds of advocates of wind power are also members of AWEA.
The American Wind Energy Association provides the latest information on the operation of current or potential wind power projects, the ongoing development of new wind power projects, companies who work in the burgeoning industry, the development of new wind energy technology, and government legislation and policies that pertain to the use, production and funding of wind power and other renewable energies.
AWEA acts as a clearing house for the wind power industry, and as such communicates the pertinent statistics, facts and news. From AWEA consumers and others can find out the latest legislative decisions and efforts, including the best information on grants and loans to aid in the implementation of residential, commercial and governmental wind power projects.
AWEA publishes and disseminates the only weekly wind power newsletter that exists anywhere. It also hosts an annual wind power conference, with presentations on the latest technological developments and trends as well as access to businesses offering help in its implementation.
James Copper is a writer for http://www.newcareerskills.co.uk/domestic-energy-assessor-training.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Copper
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