Any opinions or information on wind machines as a power source.

I've done a lot of construction projects in my long career on this planet! I've been involved in green building way before it became fashionable. Mother Earth News is a great source of information and I subscribed to this mag. 25 years ago! I worked in Sun Valley Idaho in the mountains for very rich people building active and passive solar homes for over 15 years! Unfortunately I wasn't involved in wind projects! But the concept using solar panels is the same, you just need to do a study or get the info on-line for the benefits in your area, as far as wind days goes! But the real deal is what do you do with the energy you create? The energy is usually 12 volts and there are a few things you can do with it, use it while it's working, which is not normal. Give it back to the power company for credits on what you use! This is becoming more popular if this program is available in your area, and there is a reason for this. Most people store the energy for future use. this requires batteries, and the real expense starts here! If your a heavy user you need to store a lot of energy. Batteries are very expensive and the costs are not going down. the costs for the wind generators has dropped a lot in recent years. because of demand, but batteries use more metals and are staying stable. So you store the energy! The batteries generate a poisonous gas when they are being charged! So they need a separate area to contain them! Costs! then you need items or things that will run on 12 volts or you can covert it to 24 volts, which most people do! Most items are used in recreational Vehicles, they are 24 volt and expensive! Running separate wires in your home for the new 24 or 12 volt system is also a big expense. you have to have protection on your system to be sure you don't over charge the batteries, and you want to have clean power cumming out of your system! these electronic components are also expensive. the list goes on and on ... I have other posts here on mylot on this subject! But as you see it's not as simple as people think! tdemex

Where I live there are tons of them.....we call them wind farms.....well they put a windmill on a farm and rent the land etc from the farmer and they make big bucks from it.....and it's a cheap source of energy....renewable....clean....good for the enviroment....so I say go for it!

I didn't have anything to do with aeolian power sources, but I have a friend, former member of Greenpeace Romania, who at one time had something to do with a project, where an organization tried to set up an aeolian generator field in the area next to the sea, one of the few areas in the country with enough wind all year long to support such an initiative. I don't know what happened to the project, but I remember him telling me about the regulations at one time. He said these "windmills" are somewhat dangerous to the birds, and that was a problem because one of the birds in that area was an endangered species. Not to mention the field was on the birds' way to the Danube Delta Biosphere Reservation... I really don't know if, except of some isolated installations, there are areas covered with such aeolian generators.

As long that your area is very windy... Then why not have one? Aside from they're low maintenance and free, it's environmentally friendly too! Maybe the downfall for this is the price of installation or the costs for buying a windmill... Just like buying some solar panels as well...

got lots here. think they pay for themselves fairly quickly. only problem is dim-witted protesters complaining about them ruining the view. let global warming carry on and you're going to have a view of fishies people.

i don't know much about wind mills but i have heard that it is considered as a suitable alternative. i would also depend on the requirement, if you have a heavy load you will require bigger units and that can be expensive. initial investment can be on the higher side but once installed there might not be much recurring expenses. also that it is dependent on the wind, no wind - no power. perhaps this is why they are more popular along the coast-line. solar energy is another option which also has the benefit of having a modular design (you can add more solar panels whenever required) however the batteries are expensive and a recurring cost (batteries last for 3 to 4 years). solar power is generally good for lighting purpose only (mostly with LED lamps). if you have a stream nearby you can also consider a water mill, water flowing in the stream is more reliable that wind. much depends on your actual requirements.

There's various companies involved in setting up "Wind Farms" on high ground near where I Live,Thea..as all you'd get up there otherwise would be determined hillwalkers and sheep,I think they're a good idea and use of the otherwise unusable bogland,and I like the sight of these rotating blades spinning in the breeze..I'd love to get close up to one of them to check it out,but the closest ones are on what's regarded as private Land...I saw a sign on an access road once, pointing to a Wind Farm,and drove up there,but some Engineer type Guys in hard hats told Me the site wasn't open to the Public,and turned me around.. There's several means of using renewable energy for Power,but they can be expensive to set up...For a place with sea access,wave power generators seem a good Idea,but most haven't developed beyond prototype stage..I like Solar power too.. Here's a link to a bunch of local "farms" in this area.. http://www.yes2wind.com/nonflash_region.php?Region=Co.+Tyrone+and+Fermanagh

Dear thea, I have "no" techno knowledge about wind machines, but do know in Canada they have been in place in Alberta for a few years. Now, we are introducing them into B.C., and one of our second most popular ski resorts (Grouse Mountain, which is just on the outskirts of Vancouver) this fall will be totally powered by wind-machines, and they seem optimistic, as they tower & blades are on top of the mountain....but the down side is, there are a number of groups, complaining about the destruction of birds flying into the blades...! I would think they would welcome anything, that doesn't leave a huge carbon footprint (which power plants do)and destroy the air these birds fly in! I think there is several in use in the province of Ontario, too! Good luck on your research, thea!

hi thea I know there are windmachines further up the state of Ca probably in northern california as that is where all the produce that goes almost all over the US is grown so they really need cheaper sources of electricity. I dont have any info on them but I hear it said that they do provide a cheaper source of power. I imagine one'could find a lot of information by googling for info on wind machines. I know I have seen fields of them further up the coast. sorry I dont have any real info myselg. I think it would be a great 'source of electricity and probably a lot cheaper too.

Hi, thea. After terrible loads of projects and publishing work from my teachers, i have come back to have a little involvement in some good discussions out here. And when it comes to goodness out here, i start with you. So, i noticed this discussion of yours. Although, i am involved mostly in computers or modern physics research, i think i can at least say some words of appreciation for the good work from your friend and about your concern in the matter - "Keep it up". For wind machines, the very first requirement is ample wind and height. Second is the technical expertise to exploit most from the wind, the aerodynamics point of view. If the wind in your area is turbulent also, i.e. it changes directions regularly, your friend will need certain optimizations ,maybe a horizontal one (space inefficient) or an adaptive one (needs high mobility).Also, the weather effects may degrade it in a few weeks (needs proper coating and protection).However, Your friend maybe well aware of these technical things already. I am just an innocent person in the field. It is always good to have alternative sources of energy in this period of energy crisis. Geothermal, solar and the daily vibrations from our feet are also ample sources of non-conventional energy. Happy Mylotting!!

Thea, it all depend son the area he plans to erect it. Unless the place is windy, there is no point in investing in it...If he is keen in utilising free energy available to get it converted for home needs, he can try on solar power... I am sure that place is enough sunny for this. And comparatively, this is cheaper too, and you just need to place the panels on the terrace...

I think Dutch use that machine. They use a lot of propeller, that propeller rotating because wind blowing to that propeller. So, kinetic power from rotating propeller transform to electrical power. Try find in wikipeda about details process

Hi thea09, In Bangalore we haven't seen any of the wind mills or machines but in hill stations i have seen a lot on western ghats. Its a pretty good idea to install these, Because they can generate good amount of electricity an d the whole village can depend upon these wind mills for power neither depending upon the government to provide it.