Topics Covered in Wind Energy Basics

Overview

Describes the burgeoning use of wind energy around the globe in a myriad of applications.

Wind Power Basics

Condensed explanation of power in the wind, the use of average wind speed and wind speed distributions, and changes in wind speed with height, including both American and European systems .

Where to Go for Data on Wind Speeds

Estimating Wind Turbine Performance

Condensed explanation of how to estimate the performance of any wind turbine.

Wind Turbine Technology

Describes the differences among micro turbines, small wind turbines, and medium-sized wind turbines. Explains the terminology used to describe wind turbines.

Off-the-Grid (Stand-alone) Applications

Describes the various ways wind turbines can be used to provide power and pump water at sites without utility power: marine, vacation home, stock watering, village electrification, and telecommunications.

Explains how to estimate the loads of various appliances for off-the-grid uses and encourages use of energy conservation features.

Suggests use of wind and solar hybrids for optimum reliability and cost effectiveness.

Describes how to use inverters, batteries, and dump loads.

Interconnected Applications

Description of how small and medium-sized wind turbines are being used in several countries, including single distributed wind turbines, wind turbine clusters, and wind power plants of multiple medium-sized wind turbines.

Explanation of PURPA (US), net-energy billing (US), and the electricity feed law (Germany).

Siting Wind Turbines

Explains what factors to consider when siting a wind turbine including the number and height of obstructions, planning restrictions, and public safety.

Explains why tall towers are important and suggests typical tower heights for various size wind turbines.

Buying and Installing a Wind Turbine

Discusses how a homeowner or farmer can buy and install small or medium-sized wind turbines. Wind turbine price and economics.

Conclusion

Describes how wind power makes economic and environmental sense under today's conditions.

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