Renewable and Alternative Energy, Wind

A great alternative to Solar Power is wind power, you can even combine them together to increase the energy in your batteries, so even on dull days, if there is wind, you still get power. The wind power has been harnessed for centuries, the ancients to power their boats, even the Romans had sails along with slave rowers for more power, and the windmills were using wind power for crushing grain into flour and also to help drain their lands, Around 200bc, the Persians were using wind power to operate machines. There are now over 1500 companies manufacturing and selling Wind Turbines of all different shapes and sizes, some are suitable for home use, providing the user with an infinite source of energy, others are for commercial sites such as the onshore wind farms and the offshore wind farms. The most well know Wind Turbines are the ones that we all see on top of mountains, all over the world these type of Wind Turbines, although slightly dissimilar in design, are being erected to provide mankind with a hopefully inexhaustible supply of electricity.

Some of the wind farms we see see are colossal. The English government has announced that it would like to see the whole of England surrounded by Wind Farms within the next 20 years. There are two main types of Wind Turbines, the vertical axis and the horizontal axis, the vertical being the more common one that we see, each has its own merits. Tower height is an important factor in the design of a wind turbine, the wind blows faster at higher altitudes, and the height of a tower is usually 3 times longer than a single blade. If you double the height of an existing tower, you could increase the electricity output by about 34%, some of the towers are over 104m high. There is no average height for the Wind Turbines as each area is different, but to give you an idea of each ones height, remember that at he base of each one, there is an average sized door to allow access to machinery. The output of Wind Turbines are never constant, as they rely upon the constant winds. Most turbines produce their maximum output in winds of 33 mph, if the wind hits 45 mph, most industrial turbines will shut down because of safety measures. Around the the world, at least 50,000 Wind Turbines can produce approximately 50 billion kilowatt hours per year.On a world scale, the Wind Turbines in operation now, are producing about as much electricity as 7 nuclear power stations.

When planning on installing a Wind Turbine at home, there are many different designs and types. If you opt for the usual one on top of a mast, then you need to update yourself on local planning laws, as some areas only allow a certain height. Some ground level wind turbines easily get around these planning laws, but may not create enough electricity for your needs, sas the nearer the yare to the groud, the less wind there is. Also bear in mind that some green parties are against certain wind turbines, as they can kill birds and can create noise pollution. An average small home Wind Turbine can produce up to 16,000 kilowatts per year, the average home only uses 10,000 kilowatts per year. So you can supply your self with clean energy year on year with no additional costs. But batteries do wear down, same as a car battery, when using wind generators, follow manufacturers recommendations for battery use to ensure the maximum life from a battery. There are many companies trying to get your business, so click on the internet and find out which ones offer a better variety, cost effective and a longer life battery. Most goverments offer incentives to householders who wish to turn to green energy, ask your supplier of find out from the internet if your local goverment will offer you a grant towards your costs.