Many people have achieved their goal of living completely off the grid by combining wind and solar energy. Small and affordable wind generators are now available for home use, and are often combined with photovoltaic cells for generating power. There's no question that fossil fuel costs - both in terms of out-of-pocket expenses and devastation to the environment - will continue to rise. Getting your power from the grid is only going to get more difficult. When you learn how wind power works to your advantage, you will find it's a viable alternative to dependence on traditional energy.
Wind Turbines
Here's how wind power works. It uses a wind turbine, which is a pretty uncomplicated piece of machinery. It's made of three basic parts: shaft, generator and rotor blades. The rotor blades work as a kind of propeller; the wind blows through the blades, which causes the shaft to rotate, which then turns the generator, which then produces a current. Approximately 85% of the off-grid power systems working today are using both solar and wind energy.
A windmill can be very effective if you live in a rural area with wide open spaces and a steady, consistent supply of wind. However, how wind power works in a spot where there are obstructions to its flow, such as tall buildings or towers, is by being supplemented with solar power, and it's this hybrid energy system that may be your best option in more urban areas.
Photovoltaic Cells
Generally speaking, the following components make up a solar power home system:
*Batteries (optional) *Inverter *Charge controller module *Photovoltaic panels
A photovoltaic panel array receives the incoming sunlight and converts it into an electrical current. However, this current in its natural form is direct current (DC), and must be converted to alternating current (AC) before it can be used, as most houses run on AC. This is where the inverter comes in.
These hybrid solar and wind power systems work together to create electricity. How wind power works to your advantage in the winter, at least in the northern hemisphere, is due to the fact that the sun's rays are directed toward the southern hemisphere, and many days are overcast or cloudy. Then it's possible for the wind turbine alone to supply adequate power. During the summer months, with less wind and an abundance of sunshine, the photovoltaic cells work to supplement the wind turbine.
Generating energy with a hybrid solar wind home system allows homeowners the choice to use storage batteries. They also have the choice of being Grid-Tied or Net-Metered. This means that they can not only generate energy for their own home use, but for the power company too. When you produce an excess of energy, more than you can make use of personally, this energy can be sold back to the power company. You'll have the pleasure of watching your meter begin to run backwards, and know that a check will soon be in the mail! This is why Net-Metered is the most recommended system.
Wind Turbines
Here's how wind power works. It uses a wind turbine, which is a pretty uncomplicated piece of machinery. It's made of three basic parts: shaft, generator and rotor blades. The rotor blades work as a kind of propeller; the wind blows through the blades, which causes the shaft to rotate, which then turns the generator, which then produces a current. Approximately 85% of the off-grid power systems working today are using both solar and wind energy.
A windmill can be very effective if you live in a rural area with wide open spaces and a steady, consistent supply of wind. However, how wind power works in a spot where there are obstructions to its flow, such as tall buildings or towers, is by being supplemented with solar power, and it's this hybrid energy system that may be your best option in more urban areas.
Photovoltaic Cells
Generally speaking, the following components make up a solar power home system:
*Batteries (optional) *Inverter *Charge controller module *Photovoltaic panels
A photovoltaic panel array receives the incoming sunlight and converts it into an electrical current. However, this current in its natural form is direct current (DC), and must be converted to alternating current (AC) before it can be used, as most houses run on AC. This is where the inverter comes in.
These hybrid solar and wind power systems work together to create electricity. How wind power works to your advantage in the winter, at least in the northern hemisphere, is due to the fact that the sun's rays are directed toward the southern hemisphere, and many days are overcast or cloudy. Then it's possible for the wind turbine alone to supply adequate power. During the summer months, with less wind and an abundance of sunshine, the photovoltaic cells work to supplement the wind turbine.
Generating energy with a hybrid solar wind home system allows homeowners the choice to use storage batteries. They also have the choice of being Grid-Tied or Net-Metered. This means that they can not only generate energy for their own home use, but for the power company too. When you produce an excess of energy, more than you can make use of personally, this energy can be sold back to the power company. You'll have the pleasure of watching your meter begin to run backwards, and know that a check will soon be in the mail! This is why Net-Metered is the most recommended system.
About the Author:
Can little money, no experience, and a few hours of work lower or get rid of your energy bill? Carson Solis knows. With your own solar power home system, living off the grid isn't a pipe dream. You can even earn money! Learn how to do it at his cool green site.
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