As a Wind Specialist for WYCO Energy I receive calls everyday from clients interested in wind systems for their houses, farms, or businesses. Wind it seems is a very sexy topic to be discussing these days. Some like wind turbines because of their perceived artistry. Some like the clear visual statement a wind turbine makes about their commitment to sustainability. Some like the power of wind in Colorado and the effectiveness of a wind turbine to capture that power for their use. Regardless of the reason for wind attraction, each call leads to further conversation about wind turbine feasibility on a property.
For example does the property have a good wind resource? Does the property have enough room to support a wind turbine and a tower? Does the property have obstructions that could cause an issue with installation? To help customers considering a wind turbine and getting started in the process, I thought a list with the main questions to consider might be helpful.
1. Wind Resource: Does the wind blow where you live? How fast does it blow? Using web resources can be helpful to evaluate your wind speed. Make sure you change the MS to MPH and set the meter height to 50m. A great resource is http://firstlook.3tier.com. A quick registration on the site and you can simply plug in your address and Google Earth technology locates your average wind speeds over the past 10 years! The service is free and they don't send you a bunch of spam/junk.
2. Room to Move: Do you have 1/4 of an acre or more available to place the wind turbine? Ideally an acre or more is needed to meet certain setback requirements to power lines, buildings, etc. Between a house, on a rooftop, etc is not an ideal place for a wind turbine.
3. In the Zone: Do you live in an area that has specific zoning and permitting requirements? Sometimes urban areas prohibit the erection of towers above certain heights in which could prohibit the installation of a wind turbine. Sometimes a variance can be written if necessary. Check with your county commissioners office to inquire about zoning and permitting regulations, applications, and fees.
4. Interconnection: Get on the website of your utility provider to understand the interconnection agreement. Pay close attention to the details of the interconnection such as system requirements (such as IEEE1547 or like), timing for application, and fees. Some utilities may charge for additional metering services as part of an interconnect. Most require 1-line drawings with relay switch details for emergency shut-offs, etc. Take a copy of this to the meeting with your renewable provider. They should be more than willing to help you complete your interconnection agreement.
5. Net Metering: On the website of your local utility provider you will also be able to see their net metering policy. Net metering is of course how the utility will recognize your power production in financial terms and will impact your ROI. If your utility does not have a net metering policy a phone call into the office will help get you the details and the application. Sometimes interconnection and net metering agreements are in one application.
6. Insurance: Some states, Colorado being one of them, require separate insurance policies on renewable resources connected to the grid. Talk with your insurance provider to see if they can cover your renewable Distributed Power system. At present, these systems in Colorado cannot simply be added to your homeowners policy.
7. Turbulence: Do you have anything on your property that could create turbulence? Turbulence related factors could include: tree groves, snow fences, large buildings, silos, valleys, etc. Turbulence creates rough air speed reducing the effectiveness of which mechanical energy converts to electrical energy. In addition, turbulence can be abusive to your wind turbine.
8. Towers: Do you feel comfortable with a 100' tower on our property? Wind is in the atmosphere and to be effective wind turbines must be placed in as close to a frictionless plane as possible for optimal production. Wind turbines on roof tops are not effective for this reason. In addition, wind turbines move and if place on a home would create massive vibration in the dwelling. On the note of towers, phone poles, weather/met towers, cell towers, etc are not designed for the power of a wind turbine. Tower height is critical, work with your specialist to determine the best placement and tower height for your property.
9. Neighbors: How close are your neighbors to the location of the wind turbine? While most wind turbines are very quiet, neighbors could have some concerns about the sound of a wind turbine. Ask your provider for a decibel study and schedule time to talk with your neighbor before installation and share this with them.
10. Maintenance: Are you willing to service a wind turbine for 30 years? A wind turbine will produce the same amount of friction that your car would produce at 100,000 miles in 3 months. They require service. Remember the statement earlier about those interested in the visual statement of a wind turbine? If yours is not spinning and it is windy, what message is that sending? When evaluating a service provider ask about the warranty on the machine with proper maintenance. A good wind provider will require a 5 year maintenance agreement (most insurance providers require this as well) for their wind turbine and you would be wise to opt into the program for the life of the turbine.
11. Get Ahead of the Curve: Do you have electric bills of at least $150 per month? What is your cost per kWh? Knowing what you pay for your energy can help you make an effective cost comparison for a wind turbine with your wind resource. A simple way to do this is to evaluate your wind speed average and evaluate that speed against the power curve in kWh for the machine of your choice. A WORD OF CAUTION: small wind does not have a power curve standard and many companies report inaccurate power curves. Ask for an independent study of power curve performance ratings. See below for Cadmus Group's study:
Comments
Looks like property taxes were left out. 2%/y property taxes on a $50k system will be $83/month. Property taxes and insurance may exceed existing power bill.
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