Points To Consider Before Building A Wind Generator

Before you purchase or build a wind generator, here are a few points to consider to ensure a wind generator will meet your needs.

Ensure You Have Adequate Space: Generally one acre of land or more is needed to properly operate a small wind turbine. You should also consider disturbances in your land, such as hills, trees and other building structures can block and divert the wind from your blades.

Make Sure Your Area Produces Enough Wind: Trends of wind direction, speed, and changes in direction need to be analyzed to ensure the best placement and direction for your wind turbine. To get average wind speeds of your area, you can refer to a variety of government and weather related websites that offer maps of average wind speeds. Try to locate an area as close to your land as possible for the most accurate estimate. Also measure the wind speed at various heights to determine the optimum height for your blade and shaft structure.

Check With Local Laws and Planning Committees: Some cities, states, and even housing associations have laws that do not allow wind generators, while some will have specific building requirements and permits that will be required. Also check with your energy company. By law, the local utility must purchase any excess electricity from you, if you are using a grid-connected wind turbine. However, as can be expected, some companies encourage or discourage the use of wind generators. Finally, many States offer various types of tax incentives and even rebates for your wind system, check to see if yours would be eligible!

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