| Fuel shortage and environmental damage, these | | | | interconnection to local utility grids for credit or |
| are two of the biggest current global issues and | | | | sale of overflow power. |
| it's long been known that the made-to-measure | | | | A good many houses in the rural or sub-urban |
| solution to them is renewable energy. Hydro, solar | | | | areas would likely make a suitable wind power |
| and wind power spontaneously come to mind. | | | | home but a feasibility study should be conducted |
| Played out correctly, we will never have to | | | | beforehand. Wind resource map, space and |
| kowtow to oil, gas or coal again and the | | | | clearance, regulatory requirements, neighborhood |
| environment will be spared of the kind of pollution | | | | compatibility and interconnection with the local |
| we are now seeing from them. The good news is | | | | power grid as a minimum should be researched |
| wind power generators and their solar | | | | before embarking on the construction proper of |
| counterparts are well within reach of the common | | | | the wind power system. |
| households these days. | | | | Even with the advancement of technology in this |
| As depicted in the name, the function of wind | | | | field, it is hardly practical to live off-grid with wind |
| power generators is to produce power by utilizing | | | | power as the sole source of power for your |
| the wind as fuel. This is obviously beneficial as | | | | home. No matter what, the elements will never |
| wind is natural, free and unlimited in supply. Having | | | | be 100 percent predictable and that's why it's |
| that said, it is not always feasible or viable. For | | | | most suitably used as a mutually complementary |
| example, the wind resource in the locality must be | | | | source of energy with solar power which will also |
| of a certain level and the wind tower or structure | | | | endure crunch spells. Nevertheless, it's greatly |
| must not pose any detriment to the surrounding. | | | | beneficial even if it's deployed only as a |
| And are they cost-effective over the | | | | supplementary supply to the power grid. |
| conventional form of power? | | | | It's not rocket science to make wind power. |
| Wind power generation is based on the principle of | | | | There is plenty of information and literature at |
| energy conversion. Basically, the wind energy | | | | your finger tips over the internet. A handful of |
| turns the windmill which is connected to a turbine | | | | those DIY handbooks actually do a very neat job |
| alternator or converter to produce electrical | | | | in guiding even the totally uninitiated to construct |
| power. Traditional windmills are just water pumps | | | | their own wind power generators from scratch. |
| but modern wind power generators are complete | | | | It's possible to not only slash your power bills but |
| power systems that come with safety, high-wind | | | | also get paid for the excess that is channeled |
| survival, lightning and electrical overload protection | | | | back onto the utility grid. On top of that, there's |
| and emergency shutdown features. Most are | | | | the feeling of gratification from knowing that you |
| equipped with options for storage and | | | | have contributed to the green movement. |