Wind Power
Is There Enough Wind on My Site?
Does the wind blow hard and consistently enough at my site to make a small wind turbine system economically worthwhile? That is a key question and not always easily answered. The wind resource can vary significantly over an area of… Read more
Jan 19, 2011 | By Edvard Csanyi
Wind Power
What Do Wind Systems Cost?
A small turbine can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $35,000 installed, depending on size, application, and service agreements with the manufacturer. (The American Wind Energy Association [AWEA] says a typical home wind system costs approximately $32,000 (10 kW); a comparable… Read more
Jan 18, 2011 | By Edvard Csanyi
Wind Power
Siemens Wind Turbine SWT-2.3-82
The SWT-2.3-82 turbine is the classical workhorse for utility-scale wind turbine projects, designed on the basis of our unique experience from more than 25 years of leading-edge design and construction of wind turbines. The turbine represents the best of the… Read more
Dec 30, 2010 | By Edvard Csanyi
Hydropower
Hydro vs. Wind vs. Solar Power?
Matthew Stein, author of When Technology Fails: A Manual for Self-Reliance, Sustainability, and Surviving the Long Emergency wrestles with that very question in his book. Here’s an excerpt: No single RE source works best all the time in all situations…. Read more
Dec 11, 2010 | By Edvard Csanyi
Wind Power
Aerodynamics of Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbines
A wind turbine is a device for extracting kinetic energy from the wind. By removing some of its kinetic energy the wind must slow down but only that mass of air which passes through the rotor disc is affected. Assuming… Read more
Dec 06, 2010 | By Edvard Csanyi
Wind Power
Wind Variability
One of the most critical features of wind generation is the variability of wind. Wind speeds vary with time of day, time of year, height above ground, and location on the earth’s surface. This makes wind generators into what might… Read more
Nov 30, 2010 | By Edvard Csanyi
