So you want to have a wind turbine? Part One
Posted on 17. Dec, 2009 by Lori Katz in Sustainable Energy, Wind
San Francisco is a breezy peninsula city on the edge of a huge ocean, and one of our local assets, the wind, is increasingly mentioned as a source of energy for our homes as well as our municipality. In this blog and the next, we consider the options for residential wind turbines in San Francisco.
How does a wind turbine work?
The technological principles of wind turbines are simple: wind turbines convert the wind’s kinetic energy into sufficient mechanical energy (shaft rotation) to run a generator. Besides the rotor (with blades/scoops), additional components for electrical production include a generator, gearbox, tower or support, electronic controls, and interconnection equipment. The energy generated can be used by the homeowner or redirected to PG&E to reduce your electric bill.
What kind of wind turbine do I need?
The two most important types of wind generators for residential use are HAWTs and VAWTs.
Horizontal-axis wind turbines
Horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs) utilize a horizontally mounted rotor shaft on top of a tower and have blades resembling propellers. These are the wind turbines such as one sees in large wind farms, but which are also used in smaller versions in some cities, suburbs, on personal farms and ranches. One can see a small wind turbine on a house at the corner of Alabama and 25th Sts. in San Francisco.
Vertical-axis wind turbines
Vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) have rotor shafts that are oriented vertically and often come in Darrieus (egg-beater) or Savonius (wind scoop) configurations. A VAWT is installed in front of the Randall Museum at 199 Museum Way.
Vertical-axis wind turbines are less likely to injure bats and birds because they are perceived as solid at both low and high speeds, while HAWTs, which resemble propellers, can be invisible at high speeds and result in injury to flying animals. Thus, the safest wind generators are usually the VAWTs. The City of San Francisco is especially supportive of this type of wind generator.
Do I have enough wind?
Although San Francisco can seem windy, its overall potential for wind electricity is only moderate. The higher the altitude of your turbine and the fewer obstructions between it and the ocean, the better your chance of having a lot of wind. But there are enormous wind variations from neighborhood to neighborhood. In San Francisco, the SF Public Utilities Commission has begun to map the city’s wind.
You can check out the results of this project to see if the prevailing wind blows well near you. You can also find a wind turbine specialist to help you with your estimate. Whirligig is a local wind turbine company that can help with this.
Can I get a tax credit for my wind turbine?
Yes! You can receive a federal tax credit of 30% on your small wind turbine (capacity of 100 kilowatts or less). California also provides tax incentives.
Next Step: Permits and zoning requirements.
We discuss this in our next blog: So you want to have a wind turbine? Part Two.
Lori Katz Group can help you with both your alternative and traditional energy needs. Call for a consultation.
Related posts:
- So you want a wind turbine? Part Two: Permits and progress. Let’s imagine you checked out your wind quality, identified a...
