Why buy a wind turbine

July 27, 2008 - PRLog -- The first thing to consider is whether we require turbines at all? The answer is yes. With the price of oil going up individuals have an economic justification to install. The return on investment (ROI) is increasing as energy prices increase (it will take a shorter time to pay it off).

Why is energy getting so expensive? It is because countries like India and China have become major manufacturers and now also have rocketing vehicle markets (China is putting 14,000 new cars on the road every day). China’s demand for oil has risen from 5.6 million barrels per day in 2003 to a whopping 7.6 million in 2007. In 2008 its demand will increase by another 5.7%. According to the International Energy Agency, India is one of only a few countries where a population boom means the population is getting younger. According to economists, the middle class with disposable income between $4,380 and $21,890 will grow tenfold to 583 million by 2025. These people will all want cars and desire a better lifestyle, all of which will lead to an increased demand for oil.

How does this affect us? NIE has announced sharp price rises; ESB seems to be following suit. If Iran tries to forge ahead with its nuclear programme and the USA or Israel reacts, experts predict oil prices will rocket and probably exceed $200 per barrel. On Tue 29th of April in the Financial Times, Chakib Khelil (former OPEC President) said oil prices could hit $200 per barrel and there would be little the cartel could do about it [except lodge the money]. A 40% rise in energy costs will raise a £1200 per quarter bill to £1680 (an additional £480 per quarter) in addition to rises in fuel for vehicles. There could also be another 30% rise when oil hits $200 per barrel.

Why would one consider installing a turbine now? As energy prices increase, the prices of turbines, transport, erection and commissioning will also start to rise. As demand rises, as it is doing, the products will also increase in price. There is now a greater range of products available with better technology. Payback times are now around 10–12 years at current prices. Furthermore, this will decrease as the price of energy increases, therefore now is a good time to invest in renewable energy.  

Recently problems have been highlighted in the media concerning wind turbine installations on local farms. What went wrong in these cases?

The first accusation is that the product was of inferior quality as it was manufactured in China. In reality the majority of products in our homes are manufactured in the Far East and are of a high standard.

India and China are the largest producers of wind turbines in the world. Some are made solely for the Chinese market. In one area of China alone there are approximately 70 turbine manufacturers but at present approximately only 3 of these manufacture and assemble to ISO standards and are CE registered.

In the case of the recent wind turbine failures the farmers did not have a choice of turbine as was suggested. This was due to the fact they all had a 3 phase electricity supply therefore the single phase turbines also offered were unsuitable.

Concerning the wind turbine failure at high wind speed, British standard regulations state that in 78mph gusts a wind turbine should survive and continue to function properly and at 112mph the turbine should survive without suffering any structural failure.

In order to survive in high wind speeds the system was required to have the ability to control the speed of the rotor blades. Without this mechanism it would be like a car without brakes; a hazard. The speed was controlled by yaw i.e. the turbine is hinged between generator and tail allowing the turbine to fold against the pressure of retaining springs so that the area of the blades would be reduced. This mechanism may have malfunctioned to have caused the problem.

Furthermore, a structural failure resulted in one of these turbines falling from its mast. This underlines the necessity for robust engineering and proper installation.

Important questions need to be asked:
Did the installers see the turbines operating prior to selection?
What was the feedback from existing users?
Were the controller/inverters configured for the 60Hz market?
Was a site survey carried out by a qualified person prior to installation?
Was the CE certification checked for the equipment?
Where other options given to those with 3 phase?
Who was responsible and how long will it take them to be made accountable?

What should people be looking for in a turbine?

A competitive price.
Range of products; one size is not economic for all.
A low wind start-up speed: 2.5 - 3 m/s.
No tail fin; system should steer into the wind using a motor. The wind has to change for 30 seconds before it moves. This means greater efficiency and less wear on machine.
Low noise; sounds like wind blowing through trees.
Low maintenance; only 2 bearings, permanent magnet on rotor with no slip rings, brushes or gearbox.
System has a furling mechanism which causes the machine to turn out of the wind at high speeds.
Can be switched off safely from a controller without going near the mast or turbine.
Up-wind turbine i.e. the blades are towards the wind and the turbine is behind.
One that can be configured for 3 phase.
What should people look for in a turbine installer?

Provides a comprehensive price of what is required.
An indication of what turbine is required and the estimated payback time.
A comprehensive knowledge of turbines and the advantages of the one they are installing.
Suitable equipment and qualified staff to maintain and service their products.
A track record of achievement.

Extensive information and assistance in choosing the most appropriate wind turbine is available at http://www.joliet-wind-turbines.com Joliet Technology products are available in the UK and Ireland through distributors Innovative Energy Solutions, http://www.innovativeenergysolutions.co.uk

Alan Edwards B.Eng (Hons) MIET
Managing Director
Innovative Energy Solutions

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Joliet Technology is an international supplier of renewable energy equipment operating from headquarters in Northern Spain with offices in France, and the United Kingdom. Our principal products are domestic wind turbines and LED street lighting systems.