Anyone haveResidential WInd turbine?

[scesnick]

I have been looking into micro hydro power for some time now. It will cost me about $10,000 to pretty much power my whole home. Atleast October thru the first part of june. After that my creek dries up to only about 25 gpm (20-350 gpm otherwise) So, In order to not have to pay any more more to our power suuplier
I want to get a wind turbine for the summer months. I live on top of a mountain and commercial wind turbines are going up about a mile from my farm so I know I have atleast pretty good wind anyway. ( it's a 4 on the national wind chart)
Does any TBNer's use a wind turbine to power their home????

BTW, No, I can not hook to the big ol' commercial turbines unfortunately.

 

[Doc_Bob]

I looked at wind turbines and they cost $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Not worth it unless you are off grid and running a power line costs too much.
Bob

 

[midlf]

Doc Bob - Stop looking at all the alternative stuff and just suck up and send WE-Energies their pound of flesh. BTW, smile when you look at the "transmission service" part of the bill as it allows me to keep Kubota Kredit off my back.

 

[JJT]

I've looked into it and have put up an anemometer to log wind data for at least the next 6 months. If I have wind enough to support a 10-15KW unit we'll take the plunge next year. Enough wind for me means the turbine needs to be producing at least 25%. I'm looking at an 8 - 10 year payback, they are expensive, ($35-$50K turnkey). I would do the install. NY has grant money available, they pay up to 50% and you can get a no interest loan for the balance. Excess power production gets banked - it goes to the grid. There's tons of info on the web. I've toured a couple of commercial site and even got the chance to climb a tower. 240' from the ground to the top of the Nacelle, very cool experience. 4 other guys made the climb, 3 of them would not stand up on top of the Nacelle. 2 of us were able to climb down and enter the blade hub. I happen to work for an Energy company, so I had an in.

 

[scesnick]

I have been looking at these for quite a while . I have class 4 wind but I still don't think i can justify the price. I think getting 400+ watts out of my creek for about $10,000 is a better way to go. 400 watts may not sound like alot but you have to remember that is 400 watts all the time 24/7.
Of course, this would require a battery bank but if it saves me $20,000 I'm o.k. with that.

 

[Doc_Bob]

Doc Bob - Stop looking at all the alternative stuff and just suck up and send WE-Energies their pound of flesh. BTW, smile when you look at the "transmission service" part of the bill as it allows me to keep Kubota Kredit off my back.

I hear you!!!!! I looked at a 5KW PV system and nearly had heart attack at the cost. Then I looked at wind generator. More real money. Since the generator tower would have to be at least 120 feet and require me to go up it for repairs (can't do it, seriously afraid of heights) then I would have to hire someone to go to do repairs and maintenance. I looked at the costs of this stuff and then realized it would not work. Now, if I had some serious wind, then maybe a 100 foot tilt tower would have solved everything.

Now, WE-Energies through Focus on energy grants and federal credits have made my SDHW (solar domestic hot water system) the deal of the decade. Return on investment made it perfect. Now, if I could swing it, I would go with a 5 KW PV system on the south side of a pole barn roof with a galvalume metal roof as a water collection system doing double duty for a cistern system. But, alas, I live in a city that won't allow my brand of living on the edge.

Bob

 

[gsganzer]

Watch these guys in the coming months Mag-Wind

The first lot of "pre-production" units has started. Full scale production and availability should start in the coming months.

 

[Doc_Bob]

Watch these guys in the coming months Mag-Wind

The first lot of "pre-production" units has started. Full scale production and availability should start in the coming months.

Very cool. I have read (no actual hands on) that mounting any turbine on a house is a vibration and noise disaster. Hope they have solved this issue.
Bob

 

[scott_vt]

Hi Scesnick,
A while back I posted some pics of one of my neighbors home on the top of a local mountain. I believe they are at 2200 ft. They have two seperate towers with turbines for electrical generation. I have no idea how much power they can make but I do know that they have to shut these units down at times durring the winter months because of excess wind

This is a shot of their view, to the west I believe looking towards the adirondaks !

 

[Doc_Bob]

Hi Scesnick,
A while back I posted some pics of one of my neighbors home on the top of a local mountain. I believe they are at 2200 ft. They have two seperate towers with turbines for electrical generation. I have no idea how much power they can make but I do know that they have to shut these units down at times durring the winter months because of excess wind

Looks like they have what wind power folks crave, lots of wind!!!!!!!!
Bob