A wind turbine is a type of turbine that uses wind energy as its power. Normally, when the wind passes through a turbine, almost half the air is forced to stay around the blades instead of passing through them, and the energy in these winds is lost.
The installation of wind turbines on building is not trivial, it requires careful consideration and a special mechanical study. The safety is also paramount before erecting a generator with blades that spin over 600 rpm. It is not entirely recommended our 1 kW wind turbine is suitable for building, as this would cause turbulence. In addition as the wind blows against the turbine a noise resonance may be heard within the building. Therefore, ideally the turbine should be erected on a free-standing tower 7-8m high away from obstacles.
Producing off grid energy from the wind can be an ideal source in a rural location for caravan camping, glamping or at an outdoor event as a power supply. The project starts with a site assement, you can access a wind speed database. Enter the postcode of the location you wish to site a wind turbine. The data base contains the average wind speed in metres / second (m/s) at various heights. Ideally anything above 5.5m/s at 10 metres, otherwise a wind turbine may not be a viable option for you. Variations can occur depending on the elevation of the land.
A good wind site location for a horizontal wind turbine needs to be in a rural location in clean air area away from trees, hedges, walls, and buildings which may cause turbulence. Therefore, do you have the correct conditions to produce the power you require? By comparing how much power you potentially need (to run appliances) to the wind speed in your area and how much power you can potentially produce is a good indicator to see if this energy source will work for you.
For example: Average wind speed 5.5 m/s = estimated 1100 kwh = 1100 kwh of electricity over 12 months or more if the wind speed is higher. At 6.5 m/s this would increase to an estimated 1800 kwh and at 7.5 m/s an estimated 2500 kwh increasing exponentially. Wind works hrmoniously with solar photovoltaics as a hybrid system combines the best of both worlds taking advantage of the sun in the summer and the wind in the winter.
