Renewable energy: nine affordable wind power technologies
By Susan Wilson
Wind power technology is changing as much as solar technology. Generating power from the wind no longer has to look like a sea of disembodied airplane propellers hanging from tall poles. Now wind power comes in different and oft times bizarre looks.
Doug Selsam created a series of wind turbines for both land and sea that resemble long spiky poles. His wind machines are scalable with multiple rotors along the poles or towers generating power as they turn. The multiple rotors work together to magnify the effect of the system. More information on these scalable projects can be found here and here
Then there is Broadstar’s Aerocam with its horizontal configuration. Multiple blades turn horizontally and require much less height than other wind turbines. These wind turbines are designed to be placed on roofs either as single or multiple installations for homes and businesses. More here.
MotorWave’s Micro Wind Turbine’s resemble little plastic gears that are lined up in rows, harvesting wind energy and literally “turning” that energy into electricity. These little wheels are also designed for use on buildings. The can be mounted in rows on a roof or even on the side of a building. These little gears are scalable and can be used both for home and business. More here.
Looking more like sculpture than a wind turbine, the Helix keeps the idea of spinning propeller blades but changes the shape of the blade to be both more effective and quieter. These systems can be mounted in yard or in a more urban area. Although they can be used in neighborhoods, they still require quite a bit of height. More information found here.
Another wind design that resembles more modern sculpture, is the Shape Shifting wind turbine designed by Ben Storen. His wind turbines look like standing three bladed dimensional Hallmark card hearts. The blades can alter shape to capture more wind power and survive bad storms. Unlike many other wind turbines, the Shape Shifter is meant to function at lower altitudes and is actually mounted close to the ground (or on a roof) making for a home friendly design. More here.
Like the Helix, the Quiet Revolution is pole mounted with propellers that are configured in a different way. The three blades have a unique vertical axis configuration that is supposed to be quieter and require less maintenance. The Quiet Revolution is aimed at home use with lower altitude requirements but is currently only available in Great Britain. More information can be found here
The Mariah’s Windspire, like the Quiet Revolution, has a vertical configuration. The multiple blades are mounted straight up and down and turn in a vertical circle. The Windspire is quiet, low maintenance, and bird friendly. This system is also pole mounted but scaled for homeowner use. A lengthier discussion on this system is here.
The Loopwing personal wind turbine, like the Quiet Revolution, is not available in America. It can only be found in Japan. As the name implies, the Loopwing is intended for personal use, meaning home use. The entire configuration of this wind turbine is very odd. It looks like a sculptured bird with a strange contraption caught between its outstretched wings. More here.
Finally, there is the Magenn Air Rotor System or MARS wind turbine that looks more like a blimp than anything else. The MARS is actually a high altitude wind turbine that harvests wind horizontally like the Aerocam. Unlike the Aerocam, the MARS flies like a helium balloon.
The MARS rather than being smooth like most balloons or blimps, has and outer configuration of rotors so that the wind actually turns the MARS to generate the power. Since this is still in the early stages of testing. A longer discussion can be found here.
Several of the wind products discussed above can be purchased for home use. You can buy a MotorWave Mini Wind Turbine set here, a Selsam Super Turbine here, the Winspire here, Helix here, and should you live in the UK, the Quiet Revolution will offer you a price quote here.
No matter what system you choose, you have to figure in the cost of inverters, batteries, grid tie in pieces, shipping, and in most cases installation. Less expensive, does not mean cheap. In every instance of renewable energy installations, you will have to decide if the time it takes to recoup the initial price will be worth it.
Related:
Entry was posted
on Sunday, August 31st, 2008 at 1:38 pm
under
Read more entries by Susan Wilson.
Stumble It!
