PowerSwitch

Wind energy threads like this one make me feel that you need a certain degree of technical expertise to participate in the move towards wind energy at home.

Am I wasting my time? I have no engineering or electrical skills. I already have solar water heating so using wind for that is not a runner.
Can a domestic turbine make a meaningful difference?

If you have to pay for new equipment, and for someone to do the work and you live in London, then don't bother IMO.

Why not look at solar pv first? It might be more feasible in London, depending upon your property.

As you know, pv panels just sit there; little maintenance, simple to expand and easy to understand. Once you're into the swing of things regarding the batteries/regulators/inverters and wiring chain of things (and you've learned from the inevitable mistakes), a wind turbine might not look as daunting a project.

As posted by others, wind power is unlikely to make economic sense in an urban area, unless unusualy windy.
A small battery charging wind turbine can certainly generate enough for very basic lighting, and may be worth considering as a disaster prep, not for the very small financial saving.

The energy produced by a small battery charging turbine is unlikely to exceed 20 watts* on average, that is about 170 KWH a year, or at most £34 worth.
Unlikely to be worth the capital cost of turbine, tower, battery, and probably an inverter.
But certainly worth considering if you fear TEOTWAWKI, how much would 170 KWH a year be worth then ? And remember that the output will be greatest in the winter when of course lighting is most needed.

* My estimate of what a 300 watt battery charging turbine would produce in an average urban area, 20 watts yearly average, more in winter, less in summer.

A grid tie turbine is unlikely to be worth while since it provides no standby facilty, and some reports suggest that in low wind areas, that the grid tied inverter uses a fair proportion of the generated power.

emordnilap wrote:Why not look at solar pv first? It might be more feasible in London, depending upon your property.

As you know, pv panels just sit there; little maintenance, simple to expand and easy to understand. Once you're into the swing of things regarding the batteries/regulators/inverters and wiring chain of things (and you've learned from the inevitable mistakes), a wind turbine might not look as daunting a project.

Agree entirely, PV is a better beginers project.
Care should of course be taken, but a small 12 volt battery charging PV system is low risk.
This is also unlikely to make economic sense, but is a very useful disaster prep, and a valuable learning experience.
A small battery/PV system for emergency lighting is described here
http://www.powerswitch.org.uk/forum/vie ... php?t=8246

adam2 wrote:

emordnilap wrote:Why not look at solar pv first? It might be more feasible in London, depending upon your property.

As you know, pv panels just sit there; little maintenance, simple to expand and easy to understand. Once you're into the swing of things regarding the batteries/regulators/inverters and wiring chain of things (and you've learned from the inevitable mistakes), a wind turbine might not look as daunting a project.

Agree entirely, PV is a better beginers project.
Care should of course be taken, but a small 12 volt battery charging PV system is low risk.
This is also unlikely to make economic sense, but is a very useful disaster prep, and a valuable learning experience.
A small battery/PV system for emergency lighting is described here
http://www.powerswitch.org.uk/forum/vie ... php?t=8246

Precisely. Maybe disaster preparation should be a subject incorporated into the curriculum?

I don't think anyone can make any predictions on the economic viability of anything over the next 25 years. Who knows what fuel costs will be?

If you install anything make sure it is independent of the grid so that when, not if, the grid goes down you will still have some power.

emordnilap wrote:
Precisely. Maybe disaster preparation should be a subject incorporated into the curriculum?

Did you mean included in the school curriculum ? in which case I agree, yes, disaster preparations at least at a very basic level should be included.

Or did you mean included on the forums? in which case it might be included, or one might consider that disaster preps are properly included in the preparations forum.

IMHO, every prudent citizen should prepare for shortages of food, water, fuel, and for utilty failure, industrial disputes, civil disorder, extreme weather, industrial accidents, and even terrorist attack.
Basic supplies and other preps, could make all the difference, PO though a great concern, is by no means the only challenge that we are likely to face.

Apologies adam2. I didn't realise 'curriculum' and 'forum' were the same.

Yes, I meant the school forum.

Oops.