wind power???

[Robert_in_NY]

We were contacted by United wind about putting in a residential wind turbine. A lot of people have started installing turbines around here but I have not talked with anyone who has one yet. We went over the electric bills and if we pay the $18k up front instead of financing it is a 6 to 7 year payback. United Wind guarantees production and does all maintenance and warranty work for 20 years. Tower is suppose to be at 140 feet and will be behind the house.

So I have tried to research as much as I can but would love to hear from anyone with real world experience with residential wind turbines.

The specs are as follows
Turbine type, Bergey Excel single phase
Tower type, 140ft self supporting lattice
Annual production, 18,542kwh/year

If I am not making any sense I apologize as I do not understand it all myself but am trying to educate myself as much as possible.

 

[roadhunter]

Never heard of a wind power setup that paid back in 6 years and had a 20 year warranty. What's even more impressive is that you are not located in an area that is good for generating power with wind. Sounds almost too good to be true.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Never heard of a wind power setup that paid back in 6 years and had a 20 year warranty. What's even more impressive is that you are not located in an area that is good for generating power with wind. Sounds almost too good to be true.

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=387368"/>

Actually it is a decent area, I am right next to lake Erie and we get a lot of wind here. The payback rate is based off our current and expected average utility price. Current price we pay is 12.65 cents/kWh with 20 year projected average of 20.24 cents/kWh. But this is the type discussion I am looking for.

 

[roadhunter]

Actually it is a decent area, I am right next to lake Erie and we get a lot of wind here. The payback rate is based off our current and expected average utility price. Current price we pay is 12.65 cents/kWh with 20 year projected average of 20.24 cents/kWh. But this is the type discussion I am looking for.

It all sounds really good and much different than what I have researched. Most of the stuff I've looked at had about a 20 year payback and at that point he equipment was out of warranty so you would probably be fixing and replacing it before it paid back. I'm really interested as I live in one of the best places in the country for generating wind power.

 

[MossRoad]

Hey Robert, we just drove by your place a couple weeks ago returning to Indiana from Niagara falls. I have ZERO personal experience with wind power. I do try to follow news articles and such on the subject... Many areas of the country now look like science fiction sets, especially here in Indiana. There are quite a few HUGE wind farms here. Just massive. Like 5 miles by 10 miles, 500, 1000 units, etc... the one thing I read time and again is a subject called "shadow flicker". Its just what it sounds like. If you locate a windmill where it will be between your house and the sun at certain times of the day and year, you will get this..... so be sure to put it in a location where this will not happen to you or your neighbors.

 

[sseelhoff]

Hey Robert, we just drove by your place a couple weeks ago returning to Indiana from Niagara falls. I have ZERO personal experience with wind power. I do try to follow news articles and such on the subject... Many areas of the country now look like science fiction sets, especially here in Indiana. There are quite a few HUGE wind farms here. Just massive. Like 5 miles by 10 miles, 500, 1000 units, etc... the one thing I read time and again is a subject called "shadow flicker". Its just what it sounds like. If you locate a windmill where it will be between your house and the sun at certain times of the day and year, you will get this..... so be sure to put it in a location where this will not happen to you or your neighbors.

Are you suggesting he take his wind generator and stick it where the sun don't shine?

 

[MossRoad]

Are you suggesting he take his wind generator and stick it where the sun don't shine?

Well, I guess I am, so-to-speak. :laughing:

 

[texasjohn]

Makes sense that this is an effect, but had no prior awareness of it. I've driven by lots of wind farms and always see quite a number of generators sitting idle in high wind conditions while others are turning...have no explanation why. I would think that one would want to keep them busy anytime there was sufficient wind.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Hey Robert, we just drove by your place a couple weeks ago returning to Indiana from Niagara falls. I have ZERO personal experience with wind power. I do try to follow news articles and such on the subject... Many areas of the country now look like science fiction sets, especially here in Indiana. There are quite a few HUGE wind farms here. Just massive. Like 5 miles by 10 miles, 500, 1000 units, etc... the one thing I read time and again is a subject called "shadow flicker". Its just what it sounds like. If you locate a windmill where it will be between your house and the sun at certain times of the day and year, you will get this..... so be sure to put it in a location where this will not happen to you or your neighbors.
YouTube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbIe0iUtelQ

It is only going to have 11' blades and will not be in an area where it would be between the sun and the house. But the small blades should not be as big a problem as the larger turbines.

There are no neighbors near this area.

 

[lockhaven]

remember salesmen are professional at telling only the positive and forgetting the negative. Now about the map, the colors is purple the best or the worst?