One of the great aspects of technology is the ability to make vast improvements in design and efficiency on items that have been around for many years.  In recent years the improvements in design and efficiency for residential wind turbines has been vast, bringing with it hopes and dreams for future generations.

A Colorado company is introducing a system that will allow wind turbines to generate power even when the wind is not blowing. The SmartGen hybrid gas-wind turbine enables wind turbines to produce energy at periods of low wind, by turning the turbine with compressed air generated at the base of the tower from a turbo-compressor that is run on natural gas or biogas.

Even more importantly, the SmartGen system can be retrofitted into existing wind turbines, allowing existing facilities to increase their performance. This is likely to be particularly compelling for installations seeking to extend their production while remaining free of fossil fuels. In areas where biogas production is also available nearby, a wind power facility that is generating renewable energy credits could likely also produce power from biogas in this manner as another form of renewable power and thereby remain 100% renewable energy based.

A smart clutch disengages the wind blades from the machinery when the compressor is engaged. The company also notes that the exhausted air from the air motor cools dramatically when it is released, which can help provide cooling for the generator nacelle and may even help prevent fires in the housing.

One of the brilliant parts about this idea is that it can be retro fitted to existing wind turbines.  That means wind turbines just like the DIY Wind Turbine that i built and shared the amazing wind turbine plans with you last year can benefit from these fantastic design improvements. One of our readers, Mike Doolan also did a reader review of this wind turbine that he built and is keen to make further improvements like this. I am already living 100% “off the grid” with my residential wind turbine however because my wind turbine feeds the excess power back onto the grid i am able to benefit more than before.  Why do i benefit? Because i sell the excess power generated from my home made wind turbine back to the utility company and get a credit check in the mail each month….with this improvement i will be able to generate more energy and make more clean, green energy and get paid for it!

India needs tremendous amounts of energy resources not only for rural electrification but also to meet the rising demands in the big cities. Coal reserves are in short supply, with limited domestic gas reserves India is heavily dependent on imports which are mostly entangled with strategic tug-of-wars be it the case of losing oil & gas blocks to China or ditching plans for energy partnership with Iran under pressure from the US.

Nuclear energy expansion, too, has many roadblocks – concerns about safety, waste disposal & civil liability and fuel shortages.
Although dwindling, indigenous coal reserves are still the backbone of India’s power generation sector with more than 70 percent of power generated by coal-fired power plants. The Indian government has been opposing mandatory emission reduction targets arguing that it needs to provide cheap, coal-fired power to its millions of villages.

Now India already has a voluntary goal to reduce its carbon intensity by 20 to 25 percent by 2020 from 2005 levels and it will have to agree to mandatory and absolute emission reduction. Therefore, it is India’s own interests that it seriously considers renewable energy technologies which can take up a substantial burden of the power generated in the country in the medium to long term.

Advantages of Distributed Power Generation

Distributed power generation has several other advantages in the case of India. Being a large country it is difficult to expand transmission lines to the remote places. Distributed power generation makes redundant the various parameters that an independent power system needs to match with the central grid for efficient power evacuation. An article by Grist’s David Roberts sheds light on the advantages of distributed power generation.

The effectiveness of intelligent grids will be enhanced by new ways of storing electricity at the building and neighborhood levels. It is energy storage coupled with the smart grid, Alford says, “that enables grid security, grid stability and power quality.”

Shifting of power generation of centre from traditional power plants to homes and communities would ensure reduction in losses due to power theft and would also improve the stability of the grid. India lost a staggering 88,327 MW due to power theft in 2007-08.

Power generation through localized clean energy technologies would not only reduce India’s carbon emission output but could also reduce power wastage as people would possibly value this resource more when them produce it ‘themselves’, at their homes.

One benefit of energy localism that is difficult to quantify but nonetheless significant is that it engages a city’s residents in a more active civic role: People sort their trash, they manage their power consumption, they get involved.

Local involvement at the most fundamental level of the society could initiate and fuel a sustainable revolution in the power generation sector.
Lastly, the entry of one of the largest companies in the country in a dormant sector boosts confidence in the investors and opens countless avenues of employment generation for millions. Investment thrusts from the private sector, supported by government-backed incentives and international cooperation could eventually transform India’s power sector into a profit-making sector that would fuel competition, accelerate clean energy revolution and bring the best quality services to the customers.

Residential Wind Turbines are a great way to produce free electricity for your home. Some units can be expensive on startup costs however you must think of a wind turbine as a long term investment – you will be ahead in the long run. If you are not able to finance a wind turbine I strongly suggest that you have a good look at getting your hands on this do it yourself wind turbine kit – it is the most effective design that we have come across as well as being a simple process to build and install, not to mention at $150 the payback period may only take a few weeks!

Still not sure? Why not check out our review on the best wind turbine plans.

Residential Wind Power is capable of providing results that will have your full satisfaction and it offers the possibility to easily save up to 75% off your electricity bill.  In some cases you are able to save 100% on your electricity bill, and sell the excess to the power company. It is possible to generate enough required energy needed with just a wind power system but this can also be shared with a solar energy system for even better results. The wind power system would be the better option if you live in an area with windy conditions. A solar power system will work best in sunny conditions however this could differ depending on geographical location. Sometimes the season will not matter especially if you are located close to the equator, here you are able to take advantage of the sun all year round. Other areas like in U.S in Mount Washington are known for a consistency of windy weather. If both the sun and wind are plentiful in your area, you could benefit from the combined power of the two. Assessing the overall metrological conditions of the area where you reside is a good way of determining which resource would be the most suitable.

It is not a difficult task to build a home wind power generator. Any DIY enthusiast is capable of assembling a wind generator – especially with the motivation and dedication behind you to really to steer you in the right direction to conquer this project you would need a step-by-step guide. This type of guide will guide you through the process in a comprehensive manner. The most suitable guide to help will provide details of materials and equipment you may need and step by step instructions, the procedures, and all technical aspects. Once you have the manual you will also need to get your hands on some basic power and tools.

The size of your wind power generator or wind turbine will depend mostly on the individual power requirements of your home. For example, 2000 watts and higher, then a larger wind power generator would be your best choice. But if your requirements are around 700 to 2000 watts of power then a smaller wind turbine or wind generator would be plenty.

If you are thinking about home wind power the most commonly used are the smaller generators rather than the massive industrial type. A larger generator becomes a lot more complex to build and install rather than a smaller one. However this would also depend on how much space you have and on your budget, there is nothing to specify that this couldn’t be achieved at home. If you are looking at building or installing a wind power generator and only have a small amount of space, then it’s advisable to go smaller, at least for the first time.

It’s important with whichever size of wind turbine you choose to go with, that it is constructed properly and that it maintains a strong foundation. For a wind turbine to give great results consider the height as better winds are captured at higher altitudes. A good turbine will guarantee a constant supply of electricity, regardless of the intensity of the wind.

How can we not take advantage of the many benefits we get from using wind power at home, what could be better than clean energy that doesn’t give off harmful emissions, environmentally friendly, installation is very affordable and to top it off its free. Also wind power doesn’t just stop at homes. It is also becoming more common in commercial areas. Today there are lots of office buildings that are already running exclusively off wind power.

A home wind power system is very capable of producing surplus energy. In that case, you could sell that surplus quantity to various utility companies, which are eager to purchase it and earn some extra money. Imagine saving on your elecricity bill, producing clean energy and having the opportunity to sell any surplus energy just by using wind power at home. Bottom line is that there are absolutely no downsides to generating your own electricity derived from wind power. A positive outcome is without doubt what you should only expect.

Residential Wind Turbines are a great way to produce free electricity for your home. Some units can be expensive on startup costs however you must think of a wind turbine as a long term investment – you will be ahead in the long run. If you are not able to finance a wind turbine I strongly suggest that you have a good look at getting your hands on this do it yourself wind turbine kit – it is the most effective design that we have come across as well as being a simple process to build and install, not to mention at $150 the payback period may only take a few weeks!

Still not sure? Why not check out our review on the best wind turbine plans.

Incorporating a vertical axis wind turbine the team has come up with the brilliant idea to power highway lighting with the wind generated by passing cars and also the kinetic energy from the natural winds.

Dubbed the Turbine Light this new take on the age old street light could dramatically reduce energy consumption around the world.

When new ideas utilizing the power of wind are brought to the table it makes one think what else around the home could be modified to incorporate a wind turbine?

Energy consumption around the home can be reduced in a number of areas including lighting, heating water, cooling air, heating air and in the kitchen.  The things that we can do to save energy in each of these areas all help to bring the total energy consumption of your home down which is great news even if you aren’t going to install a home wind turbine.

The first part of our four part series on reducing home energy consumption is on heating your home.  Heating your home can be expensive. In fact, up to half of the total annual energy bill in many homes may be attributed to heating.  That’s why we’ve come up with these ideas to help you keep your costs down and to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.

• If you’re heating a large space, a gas heater or reverse cycle air conditioner will generally be the more efficient method.
• Space heaters are usually more energy efficient than central heating as you are only heating one room, not the whole house.
• Check an appliance’s star rating before you purchase it. Better energy efficiency means it will cost you less to run the appliance.
• You can loose up to 70% of heat through ceilings and walls, up to 20% through windows, and up to 10% through elevated floors.
• The optimum temperature inside a home is between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius. Every degree above this level can increase your heating bill by up to 15%.
• Use ceiling fans to help push down the heat that has risen to the ceiling to keep the room at optimum temperature.
• Open curtains to north-facing windows on sunny days to invite free heat into your home.

These tips alone can dramatically reduce your energy consumption which means there will be even less to pay the utility company at the end of the month.  Once you get your heating sorted out you can then look at building your own wind turbine like I have done and pay absolutely nothing to power your home.  I have been living off the grid since 2007 – I am connected to the grid however I draw none of my power from the grid, it all comes from the wind.  Any excess energy gets sold back to the energy company and I get paid at the end of the month for my contribution.

My suggestion to you is to follow our energy saving tips and build your own wind turbine so that you pay absolutely nothing for your electricity.

In early 2007 I opened one of my energy bills and could not believe my eyes at how much I was paying each month to power my home, it was just ridiculous.  I searched around for some answers on the internet and what I found has not only saved me thousands of dollars in energy bills but it has also changed my life.

I stumbled across a website that was put together by a guy who had been in the same situation as me and was fed up with paying through the nose for electricity and did something about it.  This guy collated a heap of information about renewable energy such as home wind turbines and solar power systems for residential installations.  He sorted through the best information that was available on how to build a wind turbine and came up with his own design through testing materials, shapes and sizes and finally settled on a design that is just amazing.

The wind turbine design was so good that he put the plans into production and began selling them to other home owners who wanted to produce their own renewable energy.  Luckily this is where I came in and found the wind turbine plans that this guy put together.  I was a bit sceptical at first because I didn’t want to pay for something that was a heap of junk but I thought to myself, what have I got to lose?  That moment changed my life.

I got the plans and worked through the build of a vertical wind turbine and to my surprise the end result was actually pretty good.  I am by no means a handy man when it comes to do it yourself projects so I was really happy when I followed the detailed plans and the wind turbine came to life looking just as it did in the pictures of the guide! Not only was I stoked with my handy work but my wife thought it was pretty sweet too.

The real moment of truth was when we put the turbine up for the first time to see how it would go.  I got an electrician to wire the final connection to the electricity grid of the house which took him about an hour.  When the electrician was finished wiring in my homemade wind turbine he stood with my wife and I as we watched the turbine start to kick over and really start to move in the breeze.  We watched the power meter start off low and it just kept on building and building until it hit that magic mark of 1KwH.  I swear that I could almost see my energy meter on the house go backwards as the wind turbine that I build with my bare hands took over and powered the entire house.

I knew right then that I had to spread the word on home wind turbines and more specifically about the wind turbine plan.  The same website that I bought the plan from is still up and running today and you can find the wind turbine plans here.  Since 2007 I have really embraced renewable energy and even started a web site of my own to spread the word on residential wind power.  Do yourself a favour and get your home running on wind power.  I did it and it changed my life.

Now let me start by saying that if the start up cost of purchasing and installing a wind turbine for your home is too expensive and is leading you down the path of investing in wind power stocks then you should really have a look at our review of the best wind turbine plans.  These wind turbine plans allow you to follow some very in depth instructions on paper and on video to build your own energy producing home wind turbine for under $200.  If you do not fit into this category then read on!

People invest in particular stocks for many different reasons and some say that picking the right stock to invest in is about as easy as picking the right horse to pick at the track.  We tend to have a balanced view when it comes to picking the best wind energy stocks.  The balance that we choose is made up of the following areas:

• Products
• Environmental Image
• Trading History
• Goals & Objectives

With these goals in mind we scoured through the wind energy companies available on the US Stock Exchange and have compiled a list of our top 3 wind energy companies:

Americas Wind Energy Corporation (AWNE)

This company manufactures and markets medium sized wind turbines for the North American market.  The Wind Turbines have a power output range of between 500 and 1000 megawatts.

Western Wind Energy (WNDEF)

This company produces renewable energy from over 500 wind turbine generators which are located in Tehachapi near to Palm Springs, California.  Western Wind Energy’s annual energy outputs is approximately 75 billion watts hours per year.

Nordex (NRDXF)

Nordex is a wind turbine company that is based in Germany.  In the first quarter of the current financial year the company had a 21% increase in sales and its earnings increased by 52%.  Nordex produces wind turbines with a power output of between 1.3 MW and 2.5 MW.

These three wind energy companies tick all of the boxes for our wind energy stock investment guideline.  We are aware that we can only do so much for the world by buying our own wind turbine or building our own wind generator.  Sure we can produce our own clean, green energy and help the environment in our backyard however when all that has been done and there is more to do another great option is to look at investing in renewable energy companies like our best wind energy stocks.

Do yourself a favour when you are looking for your next investment, invest your hard earned into alternative energy stocks like we do and benefit not only yourself but everyone else on the planet at the same time.

A report completed by the Energy Saving Trust (EST) in the UK has highlighted the best and the worst areas that you can install your wind turbine.  The report took into consideration 57 different locations across the country over a two year period and came to a conclusion that the best location could produce in excess of $4000 USD worth of green electricity each year as opposed to the worst locations which were actually losing money.

The study found that there were a range of factors that had an impact on the overall performance of a wind turbine which included:

• Urban density of the area
• The way the wind turbine was mounted
• Average wind speed

EST head of business development and report author Simon Green told BBC News: “The fundamental conclusion is location, location, location. It is critically important that wind turbines are located in an area with sufficient wind resources. We believe that a minimum average wind speed needs to be at least five metres per second, which is 11mph.”

Worst Location for a Home Wind Turbine

To say one location is the best there must be a worst location for a home wind turbine. This unwanted award went to a wind turbine that was mounted on the roof of a house in a low wind area.  To make matters worse the turbine was position barely above the roof line of the house which lends itself to almost no wind.  Green also stated that “The study’s findings show that a lot of the turbines had been installed in areas that did not achieve the minimum average wind speed,”.

Best Location for a Home Wind Turbine

The report from the EST stated that the best performing wind turbine during the study was a pole-mounted home wind turbine which had an average wind speed of 5.75 meters per second.  This location would allow the home wind turbine to generate 22,000kWh of clean electricity per year.  The report went on to say “This location is in essence an offshore wind turbine mounted on land and represents an almost perfect site. There are no obstructions around the turbine, and it is mounted in very clean air.”

The findings of this report don’t come as a shock to us at residential wind power as we have seen the result of correctly installed wind turbines over the years.  The result also would not surprise many of you who have built your own wind turbine in our favourite do it yourself wind turbine kit as it shows you the correct way to install a wind turbine to get the best results.

Now you know where you should position your wind turbine have a look at our review of the best wind turbine plans to get a home wind turbine installed in your yard.

Vertical Wind Turbine Benefits:

Unlike a horizontal wind turbine a vertical wind turbine does not have to be pointed into the wind to produce power. Being that the turbine is mounted on a vertical axis means that the blades will always be facing into the wind.

A vertical wind turbine does not require the gearbox and generator to be mounted high on the tower which means that the assembly can be mounted close to or on the ground which makes for easier access and maintenance.

Finally the vertical wind turbine has a lower start-up speed over the horizontal axis wind turbine which allows for the turbine to start generating electricity more often in low wind areas.

We have seen a lot of wind turbine designs in the past and we have also built many do it yourself wind turbines over the years so we have seen the good the bad and the downright ugly when it comes to vertical wind turbines. Here are our pick of the best vertical axis wind turbines:

Earth4Energy Do It Yourself Wind Turbine

The wind turbine design in this kit is without a doubt the best that we have ever come across over the years. Although this is a do it yourself wind turbine the energy that this turbine produces is absolutely astounding. We couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw just how effortlessly this do it yourself wind turbine produced clean and green energy for free in a moderate breeze.

The best thing about this wind turbine is that it is within reach of all budgets. Following the plan of this wind turbine you can easily build your own wind turbine for under $150. To get a better look at our favourite wind turbine check it out here.

Mariah Power Windspire

Our second favourite vertical wind turbine is produced in the United States from 80% recycled materials – it is helping the environment even before you buy the rig! The Windspire turbine has a dimension of 30 feet tall and 4 feet wide and can produce up to 1.2 kW of energy in 12mph winds. Over the course of a year the wind turbine can produce 2000 kilowatt hours of energy however the cost may put it out of reach of a few people.

A typical Windspire installation will cost between $9000 and $12000 US Dollars. Check the ruling in your state as you may be able to buy this turbine and have it installed for as little as $3,800 after government rebates.

The GALE Wind Turbine

Produced by a company called Tangarie the GALE vertical axis wind turbine is a clever turbine that could also double as a work of art. The turbine which claims to produce up to 50% more electricity over a conventional wind turbine will start generating electricity in as little as 4 mph winds and continue to do so all the way up to 130 mph winds. The GALE wind turbine is easy on the eyes and ears and will not harm the surrounding wildlife according to Tangarie. As for price – get ready to hand over close to $7000 USD for one of these bad boys.

Residential Vertical Wind Turbines are a great way to produce free electricity for your home. Some units can be expensive on startup costs however you must think of a wind turbine as a long term investment – you will be ahead in the long run. If you are not able to finance a wind turbine I strongly suggest that you have a good look at getting your hands on the Earth4Energy do it yourself wind turbine kit – it is the most effective design that we have come across as well as being a simple process to build and install, not to mention at $150 the payback period may only take a few weeks!

Still not sure? Why not check out our review on the best wind turbine plans.

Home wind power with small-scale turbines is perhaps a more exciting realm of development. The standard, propeller style turbine is well established, and there are many suppliers for this kind of generator in a range of sizes. In 2009, Home power magazine had a roundup of more than a dozen small wind turbines ranging from 8 feet to 56 feet in diameter (the latter of which is far larger than even a large, inefficient household would need for their power requirements)

Swift makes Home wind power turbine that is much like an ordinary horizontal-axis turbine, but unlike other propeller style turbines, though, its five blades are connected together with a ring. This makes it a hybrid between a propeller turbine, and a turbine like the Loopwing or the Energy Ball. The ring helps to cut down on noise, most of which comes from blade tips traveling through the air, not unlike the Loopwing or the Energy Ball.

AeroVironment has another Home wind power turbine designed for direct mounting on a building parapet. The AVX 1000 is designed for commercial use only. Aerovironment’s turbines can be installed with a decorative canopy that may also lessen the likelihood of bird impacts.

Both the Swift and the AeroVironment Home wind power turbines are displayed in building parapet installations where they are only a short distance above a building roof. They may be taking some advantage of the increase in wind speed that occurs at a building roof. But when the wind is blowing parallel to the face of the building, these turbines are likely to be fairly ineffective.

Wind power has not been quite as readily accepted for home power generation for several reasons. First of all, wind power has greater requirements for open space and access to wind for efficient operation. By comparison, solar is much easier to accommodate, especially on a small site. Solar is also far less obtrusive than wind power. Solar panels located on a low slope roof or in a back yard are often almost invisible to passers-by, while wind turbines need to stick up into the air where they are able to catch the wind. Any system with moving parts is more prone to breakdown and trouble than one that is solid state, which also contributes to wind power being less desirable for homeowners who do not also want to be turbine mechanics.

Home wind power is still a small niche compared with solar however the entry level for a wind turbine is far less than solar panels.  We have conducted a review of the best wind turbine plans available today.  You can see the best wind turbine plans here.  We have built the wind turbines in these guides and can honestly say that they are the best available on the market today.  With this home made wind power kits in this comprehensive review you can make your own wind turbine for under $100.