Information on the 10-KW Wind Turbine for Home Use
- According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), most U.S. homes can offset a portion or all of their electric needs with a turbine between 5 kW and 15 kW. A 10 kW system could definitely power between 50 percent to 90 percent of a home's needs. To enable a wind turbine to power most, if not all, of the home, it's best to first minimize energy use as much as possible. Replace incandescent light bulbs with LED or compact flourescent bulbs.
- A 10 kW wind turbine can help you significantly reduce your environmental impact. After a wind turbine is manufactured and installed, it produces no pollutants for the rest of its lifetime, and turbines can last more than 25 years. According to AWEA, over a small wind turbine's lifetime it "can offset approximately 1.2 tons of air pollutants and 200 tons of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and other gases which cause climate change)."
- The most important factor to consider before deciding to install a 10 kW residential wind turbine is location. Though wind is suitable in most areas of the U.S., wind turbines operate best where the average annual wind speed is 10 miles per hour or greater. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory offers maps and other resources to help you calculate average annual wind speed in your area, but a local chapter of the AWEA might offer you better information.
AWEA recommends at least one acre of space for a residential wind turbine. In addition, the organization says the turbine should be about 500 feet away and 30 feet taller than any obstructions that could reduce the amount of wind that hits a turbine's blades. - Depending on your electric needs and uses, there are many things to consider here. There are two main ways to hook up a 10 kW turbine.
The first is to tie it to the grid. With net metering, extra electricity produced by your turbine is sold to the electric company (sometimes at the same rate you paid for it, sometimes less.). The advantage here is that your system is backed up by the grid and you don't really need battery storage.
A second way is to connect the wind turbine to a battery bank and then to your home. You can remain tied to the grid with such a system, or you can make your system independent, particularly if you have great wind resources and little energy use. - Governments are supporting wind turbines with grants and other incentives.Accounting and finance image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
FInancing for 10 k-W wind turbine projects is available. The best resource for financial incentives for wind and other renewable projects is the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE). The database's landing page features an interactive map that allows you select your state and see all federal, state and some local incentives offered in your area to help you finance your 10 kW wind turbine. These incentives come in the form of rebates, tax breaks, grants and net metering laws. - Local regulations can set you back in installing a turbine. Some local governments and neighborhood associations have regulations that don't allow turbines. Before deciding to install a turbine, check with local regulatory bodies to see if that's the case. However, AWEA offers a guide to help influence regulatory change in such an incidents and it's local chapters can help you get your wind turbine approved.
