How to Manual

Small Scale
Wind Energy Systems

Walter Hulshorst
Econ International
February 2008

Renewable Energy
 Renewable Energy
www.leonardo-energy.org

Small Scale
Wind Energy Systems
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL
1.2. BASIC THEORY OF WIND ENERGY
1.3. WIND ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
Rotor
Generator
Gearbox
Nacelle
Tail vane (Yaw system)
Tower
Control and protection systems
2. HOW TO PLAN A WIND TURBINE
2.1 WIND ASSESSMENT
2.2 HOW MUCH ENERGY DO YOU REQUIRE?
2.3 WIND TURBINE INSTALLATION
2.4 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
3. COSTS AND BENEFITS
3.1 INVESTMENT COSTS
3.2 OPERATIONAL COSTS
3.3 EVALUATIONS OF A WIND ENERGY SYSTEM
4. INSTALLATION AT YOUR HOME, FARM OR BUSINESS
1. Evaluating energy-efficiency measures
2. Evaluating legal, social and environmental issues
4. Determining wind system application
5. Shopping for a wind system
6. Determine the requirements for utility interconnection
7. Evaluating the economics of a wind system

2
How to Manual to Small Scale Wind Energy Systems
www.leonardo-energy.org

1. Introduction

Can I use wind energy to power my home or business? This is a question that is
increasingly being asked around the world as more and more people look for af-
fordable and reliable sources of electricity. Advancements in wind turbine tech-
nology are being made every day. In the shadows of multi-megawatt wind tur-
bines, there is another growing sector within this industry: systems for farms,
companies and small business.

1.1. How to use this manual

The document is intended to provide you with some basic information about wind
energy systems from approximately 500 W up to 50 kW. Along with being envi-
ronmentally sound, wind energy system can lower your electricity bill, help you
avoid the high costs of having utility power lines extended to remote locations
and prevent power failures.

Whatever your reason, this manual will help you decide if wind energy is a viable
option for you. To do so, therefore, this guide will do the following:
offer some basic theory on how wind energy works
introduce some of the main components of a wind energy system
provide you with some tips on how to determine the optimal design and
placement of a wind energy system
outline how you can determine if wind energy makes sense for you

1.2. Basic theory of wind energy

Wind is a very complex process, which nevertheless can be described in very

simple terms. The sun heats the Earths surface at varying rates, depending on
whether an area is overcast, is in direct sunlight or covered with water. The air
above the warmer areas heats up, becomes less dense and rises. The rising air
creates a low pressure area, which causes the cooler air from adjacent higher-
pressure areas to move to the lower-pressure areas. This movement of the air is
what we call wind.

As shown in figure 1, power production from a wind turbine is a function of wind

3
 Renewable Energy
www.leonardo-energy.org

speed. The relationship between wind speed and power is defined by a power
curve, which is unique to each turbine model and, in some cases, unique to site-
specific settings. In general, most wind turbines begin to produce power at wind
speeds of about 4 m/s, achieve rated power at approximately 13 m/s, and halt
power production at 25 m/s. Variability in the wind resource results in the turbine
operating at continually changing power levels.

Rated power
Wind
speed
Power (kW )

Rated power
wind speed

Wind speed (m/s)

Cut-in Cut-out
speed speed

Figure 1: From wind speed to electrical power (P-v curve)

Cut-in speed is the minimum wind speed at which the blades will rotate and gen-
erate usable power, typically between 3 and 4 m/s.

The rated speed is the minimum wind speed at which the wind turbine will gener-
ate its designated rated power. A 10 kW wind turbine, for example, may not gen-
erate 10 kW until wind speeds reach the rated power wind speed. At wind
speeds between cut-in and rated speeds, the power output is cubicle to the wind
speed.

At very high wind speeds, typically 25 m/s, most wind turbines cease power gen-
eration and shut down. The wind speed at which shut down occurs is called the
cut-out speed. Having a cut-out speed is a safety feature which protects the wind
turbine from damage. Shut down may occur in one of several ways. In some ma-
chines an automatic brake is activated by a wind speed sensor. Some machines
twist or "pitch" the blades to spill the wind. Others use "spoilers": drag flaps
mounted on the blades or the hub which are automatically activated by high rotor

4
How to Manual to Small Scale Wind Energy Systems
www.leonardo-energy.org

RPMs, or are mechanically activated by a spring loaded device which turns the
machine sideways to the wind stream. Normal wind turbine operation usually re-
sumes when the wind drops back to safe levels.

1.3. Wind energy technology

The wind turbine rotor is one of the most visible parts of a wind energy system.
Most turbines manufactured today are horizontal axis upwind machines with two
or three blades. The main propeller-like rotor has an axis that is parallel to the
ground, and therefore horizontal to the wind (figure 2). For small wind energy
systems vertical wind turbine can also be used. Vertical wind turbines have an
axis perpendicular to the flow of the wind (figure 3). Small wind energy systems
generally consists of a rotor, a generator mounted on a frame, a gearbox, a na-
celle, a tale vane or yaw system and some control and protection systems.

Figure 2 Horizontal wind turbine Figure 3 Vertical wind turbine

Within this manual we will mostly concentrate on horizontal wind turbine, how-
ever it must be mentioned that vertical systems are also used for small scale
wind systems as shown in figure 3. Figure 4 provides an overview of the parts of
a horizontal wind turbine.

5
 Renewable Energy
www.leonardo-energy.org

Gearbox Generator

Pitch mechanism

Yaw system

Tower

Rotor blade

Grid connection

Foundations

Figure 4: Main components of a wind turbine

Rotor
The rotor consists of blades with specially shaped, aerodynamic surfaces. These
rotors are usually made of composites of fibreglass, reinforced plastic or wood.
The amount of power a turbine will produce is determined primarily by the diame-
ter of its rotor. The diameter of the rotor defines its swept area, or the quantity
of wind intercepted by the turbine. Blades are turned, or pitched, out of the wind
to control the rotor speed and keep the rotor from rotating in winds that are either
too high or too low to produce electricity.

Generator
The generator converts the rotating motion of a wind turbine's blades into elec-
tricity. Inside this component, coils of wire rotate in a magnetic field to produce
electricity. Different generator designs produce either alternating current (AC) or
direct current (DC), and are available in a large range of output power ratings.

6
How to Manual to Small Scale Wind Energy Systems
www.leonardo-energy.org

The generator's rating or size depends on the length of the wind turbine's blades:
the longer the blade, the more energy is generated.

Gearbox
Many turbines (particularly those above 10 kW) use a gearbox to match the rotor
speed to that of the generator.

Nacelle
A nacelle is an enclosure that protects the gearbox, generator and other compo-
nents from the elements. The nacelle can also be removed for maintenance pur-
poses.

Tail vane (Yaw system)

A yaw system aligns the wind turbine with the wind. Most small units use a sim-
ple tail vane that directs the rotor into the wind. Special release mechanisms can
use the yaw system to turn the turbine out of dangerously high winds.

Tower
The tower holds the turbine in the path of the wind and is therefore an integral
part of a wind energy system. Towers should be able to withstand lightning
strikes, extreme winds, hail and icing. Because wind becomes less turbulent and
increases in speed in relation to its elevation above the ground, and because
power output increases substantially with wind speed, increasing tower height
from 10 to 50 metres can double the available wind energy.

There are two basic types of towers: self-supporting (free standing) and guyed.
Most home wind power tower systems use a guyed tower. Guyed towers, which
are the least expensive, can be constructed of lattice sections, pipe or tubing and
supporting guy wires. Guyed towers are also easier to install than self supporting
towers. However, guyed towers require sufficient space to accommodate them.
Although tilt-down towers are more expensive, they offer an easy way to perform
maintenance on smaller light-weight turbines (smaller than 5 kW).

Control and protection systems

Control systems range from switches, fuses and battery charge regulators to
computerized systems for control of yaw systems. The sophistication of the con-
trol and protection system varies depending on the application of the wind turbine
and the energy system it supports.

7
 Renewable Energy
www.leonardo-energy.org

2. How to plan a wind turbine

The size of the wind turbine you will need depends on how you intend to use it.
Turbines for residential use and industrial use range in size from 20 W to 50 kW.
Smaller turbines are used in a variety of applications, such as for charging batter-
ies for recreational vehicles and sailboats. For larger applications, a good idea is
to set up an energy budget to help define the size of turbine you will need. Before
you start considering a wind turbine, you should also be sure to ensure that you
are obtaining optimum energy-efficiency in your home, farm or business. This in
turn will lower the costs of your wind turbine.

Another point to consider before investing in a wind energy system is the pres-
ence of any potential obstacles. Some jurisdictions, for example, restrict the
height of the structures permitted in residential areas. To find out more informa-
tion about zoning restrictions in your area, contact your local authorities. They
can tell you if you will need to obtain a building permit and can also provide you
with a list of requirements.

In addition to zoning issues, your neighbours might object to a wind machine that
blocks their view, or might be concerned about noise.

2.1 Wind assessment

To operate a wind turbine, you will need a fair amount of wind at your location.
However, like the weather in general, wind patterns can be unpredictable, vary-
ing from place to place, and from moment to moment. Wind velocity can be af-
fected by trees, buildings, hills and valleys around us. A wind turbine should not
be placed in a location in which it will be subject to very turbulent air flow. For this
reason, you must keep the turbine as clear of obstructions as possible. Even mild
turbulence can decrease the performance of a wind turbine, since a turbine can-
not react to rapid changes in wind directions, and heavy turbulence can reduce a
turbines operational life.

Wind is a diffuse energy source that can neither be contained or stored, nor used
elsewhere at a later time. The wind challenges us to harness it, but it first re-
quires a wind assessment study at a particular location. The best way to deter-
mine the wind conditions in your area is by means of an extended series of wind
measurements, at least several months in duration, but preferably a year or

8
How to Manual to Small Scale Wind Energy Systems
www.leonardo-energy.org

longer, particularly if you hope to use the data as a basis of comparison with
measurements collected at a nearby wind monitoring station. The instruments
necessary to perform these measurements are available for purchase or hire,
and are often provided as part of a site evaluation study to be carried out by con-
sultants or wind turbine dealers. Remember that the power of the wind is a func-
tion of the cube of the wind speed. A 10 per cent error in a wind-speed estimate
can mean a 33 per cent deviation in a wind power calculation.

In general an annual average wind speed greater than 4 m/s is required to be

able to consider a wind energy system. However, speeds above 4 m/s are desir-
able. Wind turbines should be installed in unobstructed, open areas with clear
exposure to prevailing winds. Figure 5 provides a sample wind map of Western
Europe. This diagram illustrates that Scandinavia, the UK, Ireland and the Atlan-
tic coastline of Europe have the most favourable wind conditions for the develop-
ment of wind energy.

9
 Renewable Energy
www.leonardo-energy.org

> 6 m /s
Figure 5: Sample wind atlas Europe (areas marked in grey
5 - 6 m /s
indicate periods for which no data is yet available)
4 ,5 - 5 m /s
3 ,5 - 4 ,5 m /
< 3 ,5 m /s

The following figure, figure 6, provides an example of the wind speed measured
at a location with an average wind speed of 6 m/s.

10
How to Manual to Small Scale Wind Energy Systems
www.leonardo-energy.org

Windspeed distribution (average = 6 m/s)

1400
1200
Hours per year

1000
800
600
400
200
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
windspeed (m/s)

Figure 6: Wind speed distribution

For a wind turbine with a rated power of 3 kW, and a P-v curve according to fig-
ure 1 (cut in speed at 3 m/s and rated power speed at 13 m/s), the annual energy
can be calculated by multiplying the output of the wind turbine for each wind
speed with the total number of hours per yearly the wind speed is sustained, as
shown in the following table. For an average wind speed of 6 m/s, for example,
the annual energy is 4.508 kWh.

11
 Renewable Energy
www.leonardo-energy.org

Wind speed (m/ Hours/year Output (kW) kWh/yr

01 242 0 0

12 686 0 0

23 1.023 0 0

34 1.213 0,09 109

45 1.244 0,18 224

56 1.154 0,33 381

67 978 0,54 528

78 765 0,82 629

89 556 1,19 644

9 10 377 1,66 626

10 11 239 2,22 531

11 12 142 2,76 392

12 13 79 3 238

13 14 42 3 125

14 15 21 3 62

Total 8.760 4.508

The following table lists the expected annual energy for a range of average wind
speeds:

Wind speed 4 m/s 6 m/s 8 m/s 10 m/s

Annual energy 1.405 kWh 4.508 kWh 9.397 kWh 15.174 kWh

If you require a wind energy system that, for example, provides at least the aver-
age annual electricity consumption of a single household in Europe (3.500 kWh),
the turbine size is inadequate in a region with an average wind speed of 4 m/s.
The size of the turbine for a region with an average wind speed of 4 m/s should
actually be about 8 kW to produce enough electricity to power a single house-
hold. The investment required for a wind energy system with similar electricity

12
How to Manual to Small Scale Wind Energy Systems
www.leonardo-energy.org

production at a location with a higher average wind speed will be lower in com-
parison with a location with a lower average wind speed.

2.2 How much energy do you require?

To determine the amount of energy you require, you must first know the total
amount of energy you require (over the course of a year) to power all the appli-
ances and equipment in your home. The size and generating capacity of a wind
turbine for a particular installation depends on the amount of power required, as
well as on the wind conditions at the site.

Consider also the height of the tower: while a higher tower is more expensive, it
also offers your turbine access to greater wind energy. A lower tower requires a
larger turbine to generate the same amount of energy as a higher tower with a
smaller, less expensive turbine. The type of tower you will need depends on your
site: Is there sufficient room for the tower guy-wire anchors? Does the tower
height allow the turbine to operate above nearby obstructions?

Because most buildings are connected to a utility grid, many wind turbine owners
have opted to interconnect their systems. In effect, wind turbine owners use the
utility merely as a backup system. Excess electricity from the turbine is automati-
cally fed back into to the utility and backup power is automatically supplied. While
this does not constitute true storage, it does provide power on demand, at any
time and in any amount. The process to obtain approval for interconnection from
the utility company can, however, be a lengthy and complicated one, and re-
quires careful planning. It is a good idea to investigate the possibilities for inter-
connection early in the process of researching a wind system. If you hope to pro-
duce surplus electricity, check first that your grid connection is adequate to feed
the electricity back into the grid.

The variability of your energy consumption and the amount of money you are
willing to spend on a wind system should also guide your selection. For example,
a user whose consumption is erratic or concentrated during short periods of the
day should size a wind turbine differently than a user with a fairly constant en-
ergy demand. In the former case, wind turbine size should be a function of off-
peak or average energy demand.

13
 Renewable Energy
www.leonardo-energy.org

2.3 Wind turbine installation

The most ideal site for a wind turbine is mounted on a free standing mast in an
exposed location. Many conventional designs of wind turbines are not recom-
mended to be mounted on buildings. However, if the only site available is on the
roof of a building, then installing a small wind system may nevertheless be feasi-
ble if mounted high enough to minimise turbulence, or if the wind regime at that
particular location is favourable. In this case, it should be noted that performance
will still be reduced as compared to an equivalent mast-mounted machine; the
building itself will act as an obstruction and can cause turbulent air flow.

For a building-mounted turbine site in an open area, wind speed can, theoreti-
cally, actually increase as it passes over the top of a building. However, this is
only likely if the building itself is in a very exposed location. A building at the edge
of a settlement may also be subject to acceptable wind speeds and reasonably
smooth airflow on those occasions when the wind blows from the direction of ex-
posed land; however, when the wind blows from the direction of the settlement,
the wind regime will be poor. A building located at the middle of a settlement or
built up area is unlikely to benefit from a good wind regime.

2.4 Operation and maintenance

Prior to and during operation, a number of issues should be addressed,

Safety:
There are no specific safety considerations to bear in mind in relation to the op-
eration of wind turbines. Fencing or other restrictions are unnecessary for safety
considerations. People and animals can safely approach the base of the tur-
bines. There is a very remote risk of injury to people or animals or damage to
buildings as a result of flying fragments of ice (on the blades) or from a damaged
blade. The turbine can only start after de-icing prior to beginning operation.

Birds:
Birds can collide with the rotor blades of a turbine, or get caught in the turbulence
behind the rotor. Research has shown that risks of collisions are relatively small.
The estimated number of collision casualties at an installed power of 1.000 MW
is approximately 21.000 annually. While this may at first appear to be a rather
high number when considered annual, this figure actually dwarfs in comparison

14
How to Manual to Small Scale Wind Energy Systems
www.leonardo-energy.org

to the number of birds that fall victim to automobile traffic each year (2 million an-
nually) or the number of birds lost each year to fatalities involving power lines (1
million annually). Most wind turbine casualties involving birds occur at night, at
twilight or in bad weather. Birds know their forage and resting grounds very well,
and know to avoid wind turbines. Nevertheless, when installing turbines, it is ad-
visable to pay close consideration to the breeding and foraging areas of birds.

Electrical interference:
Wind turbines, like all electrical equipment, produce electromagnetic radiation,
which can interfere with broadcast communications. This interference can be
overcome through the installation of deflectors or repeaters.

Shadow flickering:
Wind turbines, like other tall structures, can also cast long shadows when the
sun is low in the sky. The effect, which is known as shadow flicker, occurs when
the blades of the wind turbine cast a shadow on a window of a nearby house,
and the rotation of the blades chops the sunlight and causes flickering while the
blades are in motion. This effect lasts for short periods and happens only in cer-
tain specific combined circumstances such as cases in which:
the sun is shining and is at a low angle (at dawn or at dusk) and
the turbine is directly between the sun and the affected property and
sufficient wind energy is available to ensure that the turbine blades are
moving.

As a general rule of thumb, shadow flicker on neighbouring offices and dwellings

within 500 metres should not exceed 30 hours per year and a maximum of 30
minutes per day. At distances greater than 10 rotor diameters from a turbine, the
potential for flicker is very low.

Noise:
Two distinct noise sources are associated with the operation of wind turbines:
aerodynamic noise, caused by blades passing through the air, and mechanical
noise, created by the operation of mechanical elements in the nacelle (the gen-
erator, gearbox and so on). Aerodynamic noise is a function of many interacting
factors, including blade design, rotational speed, wind speed and in-flow turbu-
lence. Aerodynamic noise is generally broadband in nature and can display a
certain character, often referred to as swish. Mechanical noise from a wind
turbine is tonal in nature.

15
 Renewable Energy
www.leonardo-energy.org

Maintenance:
Most of the wind energy systems that are available require owner-intervention
during operation. Many manufacturers offer maintenance service for the wind
turbines they install. The manufacturer should at least have detailed information
on maintenance procedures, and should be able to tell you when maintenance
must be carried out. Most turbines can operate for long periods of time without
troubleshooting or repair. Minor maintenance is usually carried out either on a
quarterly basis or twice yearly. More comprehensive maintenance is required an-
nually. Maintenance can range from a simple oil check, which just about anyone
can do, up to intricate gear backlash or blade pitch settings inspections, which
can require a high degree of expertise. When considering a wind energy system,
be sure that you have the technical skill that would be necessary to maintain the
installation.

3. Costs and benefits

Along with investment costs, an economic evaluation of wind energy systems

should also include a number of other aspects that must also be taken into ac-
count:
1. Reduction of annual electricity costs as a result of electricity production
by the wind energy system: you should also take into account future
expectations of the electricity price;
2. Possible stimulus programs from the government, for example, subsidies
or tax incentives, to encourage the use of wind energy systems;
3. Costs of CO2 pollution due to the production of electricity, which is zero
for wind energy systems.

3.1 Investment costs

If you completed the assessment in chapter 2, you should have a fairly good idea
of the basic configuration for your system. You can now calculate the price of the
wind energy system.

As of 2008, the average price for small wind energy systems (up to 10 kW) are
approximately 5 euros per W. For larger systems, the price is lower per W, while
some studies estimate approximately 1 euro per W. Suppliers can also indicate

16
How to Manual to Small Scale Wind Energy Systems
www.leonardo-energy.org

what spare parts are important for the system; therefore, it is probably a good
idea to purchase them right away.

In addition, depending on the size and complexity, there can also be a number of
other initial costs, such as:
Costs for obtaining wind data or wind assessment
Transportation of the system
Construction and installation: larger systems can require special equip-
ment such as a crane to set up

Some countries and grid operators also provide subsidies for the purchase of
wind energy systems.

1.2 Operational costs

The most significant annual costs are the parts and labour required for system
maintenance. However, depending on your specific application, they can also
include land leasing, property taxes and insurance premiums.

The annual operation and maintenance costs for a wind turbine can be estimated
as a percentage of the initial capital cost of the installed equipment. Values typi-
cally range between 3 and 10 percent of the initial capital costs per year.6,

1.3 Evaluation of a wind energy system

To get a quick indication of the generation costs for a wind energy system, sim-
ply divide the costs of a wind energy system by the amount of kWh produced
during the lifetime of the system. With the wind energy system described in sec-
tion 2.1, you can easily calculate the generation costs per kWh.

At an average wind speed of 6 m/s, a 3 kW wind turbine as described in section

2.1 will provide an annual energy supply equal to 4.508 kWh. During its life time
of 20 years, this type of turbine will produce: 4.508 * 20 = 90.160 kWh. The in-
vestment costs for the system will be approximately 3000 W * euro 5 = euro
15.000. If we include an additional 10 per cent for other initial costs, the price
comes to euro 16.500. The costs for 1 kWh will be: euro 16.500 / 90.160 =

17
 Renewable Energy
www.leonardo-energy.org

0,183 (not accounting for the time value of money).

At an average wind speed of 8 m/s, the costs for 1 kWh comes to 0,088. Obvi-
ously, higher wind speeds will reduce the price per kWh when using wind energy
systems. The generation costs for wind energy systems are competitive with
residential electricity prices. Electricity prices vary greatly across the 27 EU coun-
tries. According to Eurostat, the average price of electricity for an average house-
hold within the EU (as of January 2007) is approximately 0,1528 kWh.

At these prices, wind energy systems can be economically competitive in

Europe. The costs of wind energy systems can also be expected to decrease,
while the costs of electricity are only likely increase. Some countries and grid op-
erators offer higher prices for kWh generated by wind energy systems, and feed
this energy back into the grid. For this reason, it can make sense to sell electric-
ity produced by wind energy to the grid.

Along with economic evaluation, wind energy also provides additional benefits,
such as:
Increased efficiency of the electrical network: because power is gener-
ated close to the point of use, losses in the electricity grid decrease.
Lower utility costs: after your initial investment in wind energy, your
monthly electricity bill will go down; wind, after all, is free.
Climate protection: wind energy systems emit zero carbon dioxide during
their operation.
Security of supply: if you use a back up system (batteries), your wind en-
ergy system can operate while no electricity is delivered from the electric-
ity grid.

4. Installation at your home, farm or business

Should you invest in a wind turbine? A well-informed decision will require some
thought and personal research. Having read all of the chapters up to now, you
now have enough information about wind energy to decide on your next step.
The following is a review of the major points involved in a wind energy decision,
condensed into a number of steps to be taken.

18
How to Manual to Small Scale Wind Energy Systems
www.leonardo-energy.org

1. Evaluating energy-efficiency measures

Before considering a wind turbine, you should be sure to first perform an inspec-
tion to insure that you are obtaining optimum energy-efficiency in your home,
farm or business. This advantage here is double, because you might find that the
wind turbine you require is not as large or expensive as you might have thought.

2. Evaluating legal, social and environmental issues

A survey of these issues is crucial to your decision-making, because certain is-

sues can alter or even put an end to your plans for a wind turbine. In general,
rural areas are the least affected by these issues. To learn more about the appli-
cable zoning ordinances and building permit requirements, contact the local zon-
ing board, town clerk or building inspector in your area. You should also be sure
to discuss liability coverage and insurance needs with a licensed insurance
agent. To avoid unforeseen public objections to the sight of a wind turbine in the
neighbourhood, discuss your plans with your neighbours. Have a title search car-
ried out to determine whether prior agreements or easements exist which would
prevent you from installing a wind turbine on your property.

3. Evaluating wind resources

The best way to determine the wind conditions in your area is by taking wind
measurements for a period of at least several months, and preferably a year or
longer, particularly if you are able to compare the data with that collected at a
nearby wind monitoring station. The instruments you will need to conduct the
measurements are available for purchase or for hire, and are often even pro-
vided as part of a site evaluation study performed by a consultant or wind turbine
dealer. Remember that the power of the wind is a function of the cube of the
speed. A 10 per cent error in a wind speed estimate can mean a 33 per cent de-
viation in a wind power calculation.

4. Determining wind system application

The next step is to determine the appropriate machine size, or generating capac-
ity. As a rule of thumb, a wind turbine should be sized to supply anywhere be-
tween 25 and 75 per cent of your electrical needs. The amount you are willing to
spend on a system will also affect size selection. If you are considering storing
the electricity, for example, with batteries, then the daily variation in winds is less

19
 Renewable Energy
www.leonardo-energy.org

significant a factor. Most people choose electricity as the wind turbine's product.
Interconnection of the wind system with the utility grid eliminates the need for
separate storage and provides the convenience of an almost unlimited back-up
power supply from an existing energy source.

5. Shopping for a wind system

Once you have decided how you would like wind energy to work for you, you
should begin to explore the wide range of wind turbine products and accessories
that are available on the market. If you have not already done so, now is the time
to contact one or more dealers to discuss your particular interests and to get
some preliminary cost estimates. Choosing a good wind dealer is perhaps just as
important as selecting a good wind system, because most dealers service what
they sell. Dealers should also provide you with references. Do not hesitate to de-
mand a very high level of service. You should be as particular about the service
and maintenance of your wind machine as you would be when purchasing an
automobile.

Become familiar with manufacturers product literature, and read everything you
can about specific wind turbines in popular magazines, newspaper articles and
elsewhere. Talk with local wind turbine owners, who can be your most reliable
information source. When you talk to existing wind turbine owners, ask them how
they chose their wind systems and whether the system they picked met their ex-
pectations. Find out what problems they have had with their machines' perform-
ance, utility cooperation and so on. Also be sure to ask how responsive the
dealer has been to service calls since the initial installation.

As you narrow your choices down to a few machines, compare wind turbine war-
ranties and note the differences between those provided by the manufacturer
and those offered by the dealer. Inquire whether the dealer's warranty is transfer-
able or assumable by the manufacturer should the dealer go out of business.
Compare the maintenance requirements of machines. Higher maintenance
means higher annual costs. It is also wise to compare the terms and prices of
service contracts offered by different dealers.

An overview of smallest wind turbines (including technical specifications and an

indication of the prices) is available at: www.allsmallwindturbines.com.

20
How to Manual to Small Scale Wind Energy Systems
www.leonardo-energy.org

6. Determine the requirements for utility interconnection

If you plan to interconnect your wind system with the utility grid, you must first
contact the local utility office. Some utilities do not like customers to install utility-
connected power generation systems. Your local utility can also inform you about
possible incentives for wind energy systems. Also, ask about the possibility of
feeding electricity back onto the grid. Your local utility can also inform you about
the availability of potential subsidies on investment and/or feed-in tariffs.

The utility should provide you with a written description of the costs, as well as
the terms and conditions involved with interconnection, such as double-metering.
Find out what the requirements are for safety and power-conditioning devices,
additional monthly service and demand charges, buy-back rates and electrical
inspection of the installation. Be prepared to submit a detailed schematic dia-
gram (including electrical plans) of the planned wind system.

7. Evaluating the economics of a wind system

Now is the time to evaluate the financial consequences of your pending decision.
The initial costs and annual expenses of wind turbine ownership must be
weighed against the benefits of long-term electricity cost savings.

21
 Renewable Energy
www.leonardo-energy.org

End Notes

[1] www.eoltec.com
[2] www.turby.nl
[3] www.windpower.org/en/tour/wres/euromap.htm
[4] For more information on specific wind speeds for various countries, go to:
www.windatlas.dk.
[5] Wind Energy Development Guidelines, Ireland Department of the Envi-
ronment, Heritage and Local Government, Ireland: www.environ.ie/en/
Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/
FileDownLoad,1633,en.pdf.
[6] van der Wekken, T., Wind power (KEMA Consulting, Autumn 2006), at:
www.leonardo-energy.org/drupal/files/2006/wind.pdf?download.
[7] The shadow flicker recommendations provided here are based on re-
search by Predac, a European Union-sponsored organisation promoting
best practice in energy use and supply, which draws on experience from
Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands and Germany.
[8] Wind Energy: The facts -- An analysis of Wind Energy in the EU-25,
EWEA
[9] Stand alone Wind Energy Systems: A Buyers Guide (Natural Resources
Canada, 2003).
[10] , Electricity Prices for EU Households and Industrial Consumers on 1
January 2007, at: www.epp.eurostat.ec.europe.eu.

22