Building a Wind Turbine

While it may seem at first that small wind turbines are for hard core enthusiasts only, constructing your won wind turbine is actually quite an attainable goal. For many, a wind turbine produced the best oucomes, generating enough energy to pay for all your electricity and maybe even sell some electricity back to the power company.

There are a few options, ranging from purchasing a kit that just needs to be assembled, to building everything from scratch.  For those who really want to get into a project, you can even build your own tower, generator, and carve the windmill blades from wood.

That said, before engaging in a hard-core project or putting out a lot of money, it is a good idea to investigate the potential for your area. I happen to live in the base of a valley where it’s rare to see dry leaves blow in the breeze. But even if there is some notable wind on your property, as I explain in the wind glossary, there needs to be a certain amount of wind. Thus, before engaging in the project, consider using a small wind meter over several months to make sure you have a good site for a wind turbine. This also helps you find the most suitable location for that wind turbine within the property.

The first basic component of a wind turbine is some kind of structure to support the generator. This could be a tower, a platform, or just a strong roof. In addition, the windmill blade needs to be connected to a generator, the tail assembly needs to be facing the wind, and then all the regular components of a green power system need to be installed.

Once you’ve gathered the parts, it may only take a couple of days to install the wind turbine. If the assembly is relatively simple, you can get by with limited knowledge of electrical circuitry. However, if you are intending to sell any of the power back to the power company, more sophisticated charge controllers will be required. For a project of that scale, you may need assistance of an electrician.

On the other hand, the downside to building wind power that is not grid-linked is that you will need to store the power created during windy times in batteries for slow release later. These batteries can be an environmental hazard when the time comes to dispose of them.

In any case, building a wind turbine is many things. It provides you with a really fascinating project, it creates power that helps keep the air clean, and it allows you to set out on your own. Producing your own power allows you to be self-sufficient and even make money. You can even think of it as a small entrepreneurial project if you have a property that allows you to sell a lot of power back to the power company.

Today’s wind generators are highly efficient and these will likely become a major source of power in the future. There are even rooftop generators made of nylon that can be deployed in highly urban areas.

Tapping wind power allows you to tap a free supply of power for a long time to come. Wind turbines are enduring and powerful. If you have the kind of property to allow you to build a wind turbine, I strongly advise you to give it a shot.

Photo Courtesy: Superaud