wind turbines, suitable for Domestic use http://www.greenenergytechnologies.ie/dom_t01.asp

Wind Turbines

Below find a selection of wind turbines, suitable for Domestic use, available from Green Energy Technologies.


Model Espada Passaat Montana Alize
Type Upwind rotor with variable pitch
Maximum power1 800 Watt 1.4 kW 5.8kW 10 kW
Rated wind speed 17 m/sec 16 m/sec 17 m/sec 13 m/sec
Cut-in wind speed2 3 m/sec 3 m/sec 2.5 m/sec 3 m/sec
Output at 10m/sec 480 Watt 0.95 kW 2.8 kW 6.6 kW
Rotor diameter 2.2 m 3.12 m 5 m 7 m
No. of Blades 2 3 3 3
Swept area 3.8 m 7.65 m 19.63 m 38.5 m
Blade material Fibreglass-reinforced epoxy
Yaw control Passive aligned by tail vane
Speed regulation Safety system by hinged vane which will gradually turn the rotor out of the wind and a short circuit system for the generator
Rated RPM 240 - 1000 180 - 775 120 - 450 25 - 300
Generator Type Permanent NE-Fe-Br magnets producing 3 phase AC
Battery size 12v, 24v, 48v or 120v
Battery protection Controller with dumpload PWM switching
Battery regulator Available for 12v, 24v, 48v or 120v installations
Grid feed inverter 1 x 230v 1 x 230v 1 x 230v 1 x 230v or 3 x 400v
Tower height 12 - 18 m 12 - 18 m 12 - 18 m 12 - 36 m
Standard tower 12 m guyed wire 12 m guyed wire 18 m guyed wire 24 m guyed wire
Optional tower Lattice tower 15-18 m Lattice tower 15-18 m Free standing pole 15 - 18 m Free standing pole 24 m
Weight 52 kg 75 kg 200 kg 540 kg
Main features 5 years guarantee
Average lifetime for wind turbine is over 20 years
Maintenance free
Wind turbines from 800 Watt up to 30 kW (Fortis Boreas 30 kW information on request)
Low cut-in wind speed
High performance/price ratio
Direct drive
Automatic furling safety system
Free standing, lattice tower or guyed pole
Electric brake switch
1 Maximum power output at the rated wind speed
2 1 metre/second = 2.24 miles per hour = 3.6 kilometres per hour

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do domestic wind turbines work?
A wind turbine (installed on top of a tall tower) collects kinetic energy from the wind and converts it to electricity that is compatible with a home's electrical system.
In a normal residential application, the wind turbine, and an additional ‘traditional’ supply source (such as supply from the ESB) serve a home simultaneously. If the wind speeds are below cut-in speed (7-10 mph) there will be no output from the turbine and all of the needed power is purchased from the traditional supply source. As wind speeds increase, turbine output increases and the amount of power purchased from the traditional supply source is reduced.

Will a small wind turbine save me money?
Yes. The wind turbine typically lowers your electricity bill by 50 to 90 percent per annum. It is not uncommon for wind turbine owners with total-electric homes to have monthly bills eliminated. The amount of money a small wind turbine will save you over the course o its lifetime will depend upon its cost, the amount of electricity you use, the average wind speed at your site, and the sizing of the turbine.

What size turbine would I need for my home?
Homes use approximately 6,400 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year (about 780 kWh per month). Depending upon the average wind speed in the area, a wind turbine rated in the range of 2 to 5 kilowatts would be required to make a significant contribution to meet this demand.

Who should consider buying a wind turbine?
A residential wind turbine can be a relatively large device and is not suitable for urban or small-lot suburban homes. Except for very small wind turbines (i.e., with rotors one meter or less in diameter) on very small towers, a property size of 1/3 acre or more is desirable.
The economics of a wind system are very sensitive to the average wind speed in the area, and to a lesser extent, the cost of purchasing electricity. As a general rule of thumb, if economics are a concern, a turbine owner should have at least a 10 mph average wind speed and be paying at least 12 cents/kWh for electricity.

Will it help the environment if I install a wind turbine at my home?
Yes. Wind turbines produce no pollution and by using wind power you will be offsetting pollution that would have been generated by your electricity supply company. Over its life span, a small residential wind turbine can offset approximately 1.2 tons of air pollutants and 200 tons of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and other gases which cause climate change).

Don't I have to take wind measurements for a year or more?
For most residential systems the cost of taking wind measurements is not justified. Wind maps is sufficient for an experienced evaluator to predict wind turbine performance. In very hilly or mountainous areas, however, it may be best to collect wind data before purchasing a system to ensure that your site is not in a sheltered area.

Do wind turbines make noise or interfere with TV reception?
Small wind turbines do make some noise, but not enough to be found objectionable by most people. A typical residential wind system makes less noise than the average washing machine. Wind turbines do not interfere with TV reception.

Will I have to change any of the wiring in my house?
No. A wind turbine is easily retrofitted to virtually any home without the need to change any wiring or appliances.

What about towers?
A tower is usually supplied along with the wind turbine. Tall towers are necessary to raise the wind turbine above turbulence generated by obstacles on the ground and trees. Wind velocity and, therefore wind turbine performance, increases with tower height. Several different types of towers are available, depending upon which manufacturer you select. Each type has its advantages; the most economical type of tower is the guyed lattice tower, but a hinged tower can be easier for you to install and provides easier access for maintenance.

How much does a wind system cost?
A small turbine can cost anywhere from €2,000 to €22,000 installed, depending upon size, application and manufacturer.

How reliable are wind turbines? Will I have to perform much maintenance?
Most small turbines have very few moving parts and do not require any regular maintenance. They are designed for a long life (up to 20 years) and operate completely automatically.

How do wind turbines perform as an investment?
The wind system will usually recoup its investment through utility savings within 5 to 15 years and after that the electricity it produces will be virtually free. Over the long term, a wind turbine is a good investment because a well-sited wind system increases property value, similar to any other home improvement. Many people buy wind systems in preparation for their retirement because they don't want to be subject to unpredictable increases in utility rates.



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