The Windspire Vertical-Axis turbine is set to become one of the first low-cost, fully-integrated wind systems available to the public. Thanks to a recently passed ETL (safety) certification for the U.S. and Canada, the company is now on the fast-track to releasing the product in early 2008 at a price of $3,995.
Not only will this turbine work in wind conditions that are prevalent through almost 60% of the United States, but it will also be much easier to install than previous wind systems. Windspire features a fully integrated, plug ‘n produce design, including a high efficiency generator, integrated inverter, and wireless performance monitor. It incorporates a slow speed giromill rotor for virtually silent operation and improved safety and durability. From the article,
Windspire features a new design that incorporates a tall, slender vertical style rotor that maximizes efficiency to produce strong, reliable performance. It is expected to produce about 1800 kilowatt hours per year in 11 mile per hour average wind speed conditions.It is 30 feet tall with a two foot radius, sized below typical residential zoning restrictions. Guidelines for installation sites are generally half an acre of land and relatively windy locations. It is priced at half to a third the cost of comparable renewable power options, and can be quickly and easily installed by authorized dealers.
Sounds like a great system to me. Savings for the average American home are expected to be about 25% per year. Throw in the quiet operation, limited height requirements, and current tax breaks — and wind is looking like a much more agreeable option for those without consistent access to solar.
Check out the official website here.
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In response to Crilism’s comment, I think there must be multiple solutions on both ends of the spectrum. There’s so much work to be done that macro- and micro-solutions are needed.
Next, these windmills are very exciting. I heard a lot about windmill energy when I was at the Art Center Sustainability Summit(http://www.artcenter.edu/summit/) last week. I think that we need to introduce this type of energy to Europe and Asia and all over the world. Hopefully large companies will invest enough money to make them viable in places where other sources of power are harder to come by. I will not be able to attend it, but I’m very interested to see what kind of solutions to climate issues are proposed at the Art Center Global Dialogues(http://blog.globaldialogues.eu/), which is an even more ambitious event than the Summit. It takes place in Barcelona and leaders in many different industry will be brainstorming about ways to address climate change, green designs, architecture, and geopolitics. It’s amazing that windmills are part of all those different issues now.
When it comes to windpower you can forget the so called micro systems. Wind is one energy source where size really does count. Power is proportional to the square of turbine diameter and the cube of windspeed. Since windspeed increases rapidly with height the rough rule of thumb becomes the largest diameter turbine you can build on the tallest tower you can put up and you will have the most efficient system. Wind also performs much better in smooth flow conditions, something not generally found in urban environments. Vertical axis wind turbines are far less efficient than their horizontal counterparts and have significant difficulties with dynamic balance and turbulent flow. Compare the swept area of a 10 metre tall three vane 2 metre diameter VAWT (20 M2) with its horizontal counterpart’s 3 x 10m dia over 300 square metres. Although the horizontal turbine occupies (and extracts energy from) a lot more sky they both have a similir ground footprint Both have similiar construction costs. Both are unsuitable for urban installation. ( Of course the real solution might be for the human race to realise that it is cities themselves which are unsustainable…at least on the present scale, and develop an existence which is not predicated on cramming as many inhabitants into the smallest possible area and holding them to economic ransom for all commodities and services…not likely but like those who think that a large noisey twirly gig in their back yard will solve their energy needs, one can at least drem)
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[...] largest windmill turbine, and on the other we’re readying micro-solutions like the ‘personal windmill’. At what end of the spectrum does a true solution [...]