Get Blown-Away By Wind Power!

There are many ways to take advantage of renewable energy sources, and wind power has to be one of the most pervasive in our society, and has been for decades. Man first harnessed the power of wind millennia ago, when learning to sail the seas. These days, we have a more technological use for it, but the principals of converting the kinetic potential of wind to another form of energy persist. In the right circumstances, wind power has the potential to be effective at generating small-scale electricity, and powering your homes needs, like your electric radiators to hot water.

Introduction to Wind Power
Wind power is the conversion of wind into a useful form of energy e.g. using wind turbines to create electricity. But this is not the only form of energy that it is capable of being converted into, other forms such as using wind mills for mechanical power, wind pumps for pumping water or drainage, or sails to propel ships with kinetic energy are also applicable. Some, are recently starting to doubt the ability of wind power to provide enough energy on a global scale (power output vs. Needs of nation) for it to be economically viable (see recent article in the Telegraph). However, it is still unquestionably one of the most popular methods of renewable energy on a personal scale.

In terms of electrical uses on a large-scale, wind farms are the key. These are a collection of many wind turbines to collect as much wind power from one geographically-viable area as possible. Wind Farms are connected to the electric power transmission network, whereas smaller facilities are used to provide electricity to isolated locations. Utility companies increasingly buy back surplus electricity produced by small domestic turbines.

Wind energy, as an alternative to fossil fuels, has plenty of positive factors. It is plentiful, clean, renewable, widely distributed, and produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation. However, the construction of wind farms/turbines has been frowned upon in some communities and areas, as it can have a large visual impact aesthetically. Yet, with some of the most viable areas for wind farming out to sea (and thus more wind farms being built at sea) this could be a small complaint of the future. Any effects on the environment, nevertheless, are generally among the least problematic of any power source, making it a favourite amongst the more environmentally friendly of you.

In a wind farm, individual turbines are interconnected with a medium voltage, power collection system and communications network. At a substation, this medium-voltage electric current is increased in voltage with a transformer for connection to the high voltage electric power transmission system.

In small scale wind energy generation, the surplus power produced by domestic microgenerators can be fed into the network and sold to the utility company, producing a retail credit for the microgenerators’ owners to offset their energy costs. This works on a retail credit system, the same as that used in small scale solar power generation.

Practical Uses

Microgeneration. This is the small-scale generation of heat and power by individuals, small businesses and communities to meet their own needs, as alternatives or supplements to traditional centralized grid-connected power. Although this may be motivated by practical considerations (such as unreliable grid power or long distance from the grid) it is primarily used to describe the environmentally-conscious and their approaches to generating power that aspire to zero or low-carbon footprints.
Environmentally, studies have backed-up the environmental impacts of wind power on a small-scale in the UK.  (A new study by the Carbon Trust into the potential of small-scale wind energy has found that small wind turbines could provide up to 0.4% of the total UK electricity consumption.

This is saving 0.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emission.
Wind turbines have been used for household electricity generation in conjunction with battery storage over many decades in remote areas.
There are several different ways to secure a wind turbine. Mounted on a suitable tower, using a ‘shelter model’ to predict how nearby obstacles will affect local wind conditions, or even installed on a roof. Installation issues then include the strength of the roof, vibration, and the turbulence caused by the roof ledge. Small-scale rooftop turbines suffer from turbulence and rarely generate significant amounts of power, especially in towns and cities.

Conclusion
So, it seems that whilst wind turbines seem like a great idea for urban personal renewable energy, it may be best left to those in areas high above sea level, or in less densely populated urban areas, and of course the most environmentally conscious. However, due to factors like; ease of installation, benefits to the environment and ability (in the right conditions) to easily (and effectively) produce electricity in many different environments, wind power will continue to be a popular source of personal renewable energy.
Carlo Ruggiero is a green aficionado who is passionate about getting the word out on renewable sources of energy and all things green, from funding your hot water to making money from your electric heating.  You can follow his struggle with social media and daily musings on Twitter.