11–20 of 25 posts
So, at his site, 10+ years ago, his wind produced more frequent power than PV would have, at 3x the cost of a commercial solution. Even then, PV would have been more cost-efficient. Now with storage probably even more so. Small wind is a mug's game except in very specific circumstances.
So, at his site, 10+ years ago, his wind produced more frequent power than PV would have, at 3x the cost of a commercial solution. Even then, PV would have been more cost-efficient. Now with storage probably even more so. Small wind is a mug's game except in very specific circumstances.
I sooo want a wind turbine to supplement my solar, but as you say, I just can't make the economics work. For starters, wind is a lot more mechanical. Meaning moving parts. Meaning maintainence, storm care, and so on. For another it's more obtrusive, large, high, creates some degree of noise etc. It's not exactly cheap. My inverter could handle it, but between the mounting and turbine, it's some real cash. The argumen…
My partner's parents installed such a system in Oregon, they live off-grid and use it to minimize their propane generator's use. A 3kW system was around $7k in total.
It doesn't make much sense if you have a grid connection, the payback time will likely be at least 15 years or so. But it makes sense for an off-grid system.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I sooo want a wind turbine to supplement my solar, but as you say, I just can't make the economics work. For starters, wind is a lot more mechanical. Meaning moving parts. Meaning maintainence, storm care, and so on. For another it's more obtrusive, large, high, creates some degree of noise etc. It's not exactly cheap. My inverter could handle it, but between the mounting and turbine, it's some real cash. The argumen…
There are commercially available wind turbines, rated for 1-20kW. My partner's parents installed such a system in Oregon, they live off-grid and use it to minimize their propane generator's use. A 3kW system was around $7k in total. It doesn't make much sense if you have a grid connection, the payback time will likely be at least 15 years or so. But it makes sense for an off-grid system.
So, at his site, 10+ years ago, his wind produced more frequent power than PV would have, at 3x the cost of a commercial solution. Even then, PV would have been more cost-efficient. Now with storage probably even more so. Small wind is a mug's game except in very specific circumstances.
In principle, gearing should make the low-torque, high-speed motors that one can drive via PV their equivalent or better. I'm no MechE; what's the situation in practice?
The inside of a working windmill are more complex and beautiful than any turbine.
https://d1dqs20vqfxmh2.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/201...
But is this actually a wind mill ? This is a turbine, a generator. A windmill does milling . It is connected to mechanical devices that do mechanical work such as milling flour, rather than a generator that creates electricity. The inside of a working windmill are more complex and beautiful than any turbine. https://d1dqs20vqfxmh2.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/201...
The word mill is overloaded. In Dutch, these are two separate words: molen, a singular noun describing a machine using a rotational mechanism for powering some industrial process; and malen, a verb describing the milling of particles into flour. In this case, the article describes a mill of the first kind.
But is this actually a wind mill ? This is a turbine, a generator. A windmill does milling . It is connected to mechanical devices that do mechanical work such as milling flour, rather than a generator that creates electricity. The inside of a working windmill are more complex and beautiful than any turbine. https://d1dqs20vqfxmh2.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/201...
So what does a textile mill do? Does it grind cloth into fine dust, or does it something else? Is the sawdust produced by a sawmill its primary output product? The word mill is overloaded. In Dutch, these are two separate words: molen, a singular noun describing a machine using a rotational mechanism for powering some industrial process; and malen, a verb describing the milling of particles into flour. In this case,…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I sooo want a wind turbine to supplement my solar, but as you say, I just can't make the economics work. For starters, wind is a lot more mechanical. Meaning moving parts. Meaning maintainence, storm care, and so on. For another it's more obtrusive, large, high, creates some degree of noise etc. It's not exactly cheap. My inverter could handle it, but between the mounting and turbine, it's some real cash. The argumen…
There are commercially available wind turbines, rated for 1-20kW. My partner's parents installed such a system in Oregon, they live off-grid and use it to minimize their propane generator's use. A 3kW system was around $7k in total. It doesn't make much sense if you have a grid connection, the payback time will likely be at least 15 years or so. But it makes sense for an off-grid system.
2 of those could, theoretically, power all of a typical house's electricity if they got anywhere near 3kw on average.
$14k to not need the grid would be a deal.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
There are commercially available wind turbines, rated for 1-20kW. My partner's parents installed such a system in Oregon, they live off-grid and use it to minimize their propane generator's use. A 3kW system was around $7k in total. It doesn't make much sense if you have a grid connection, the payback time will likely be at least 15 years or so. But it makes sense for an off-grid system.
How many kwh per day does the 3kw system cost? 2 of those could, theoretically, power all of a typical house's electricity if they got anywhere near 3kw on average. $14k to not need the grid would be a deal.
But is this actually a wind mill ? This is a turbine, a generator. A windmill does milling . It is connected to mechanical devices that do mechanical work such as milling flour, rather than a generator that creates electricity. The inside of a working windmill are more complex and beautiful than any turbine. https://d1dqs20vqfxmh2.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/201...
So what does a textile mill do? Does it grind cloth into fine dust, or does it something else? Is the sawdust produced by a sawmill its primary output product? The word mill is overloaded. In Dutch, these are two separate words: molen, a singular noun describing a machine using a rotational mechanism for powering some industrial process; and malen, a verb describing the milling of particles into flour. In this case,…
