How do I know if my Home Site Is a Good Wind Site?

Site Evaluation

A good site has the right mix of terrain, orientation and wind flow. To determine whether a site is suitable, a topographical analysis using three-dimensional computerized maps, which are detailed enough to pinpoint individual house lots is generated. If the topography seems favorable, wind maps and databases are consulted to establish the direction and speed of the wind using existing wind data.

A wind analysis report can then be generated. This details how much power can be expected at different tower heights, and “what you can expect for energy output on an annualized basis.” The next step would be a home site evaluation to help decide where to locate the tower based on where the prevailing winds are coming from.

Net Metering

Most wind turbines are connected to the local utility company’s power grid, avoiding the expense of storing power and “bypassing the need for batteries.” This option is possible because, by law, utilities are required to allow consumers to connect to the grid.

Power companies are mandated to offer “net metering,” a system that allows customers to “bank” the excess power they produce and use it to offset the cost of what they would have to purchase, within a one-year period.

They are required by the net metering law to install, at no cost to you, two electric meters; one that monitors how much you are consuming from the grid and one that monitors how much extra power you are putting on the grid. For example “If you get up in the morning and turn on the [electric] dryer and there’s no wind, your electric meter spins rapidly. As soon as the wind picks up, the meter will slow down because it’s consuming the power you’re generating first. If you turn off the dryer, and you’re not consuming any power in the house, and the wind is whipping, then you feed power back to the grid.”

Under a net-metering arrangement, “Everyone can generate just as much as they can consume.” Excess power is not sold back to the power company it is sent onto the grid for someone else to use and shows up as a credit on your bill. If you go to Florida for the month of January, when the wind is blowing its hardest, you will bank all those credits and when you return in the summer you can crank the AC to use all the credits.

However. “If you make more than you use at the end of the year, you’re not going to get paid for it.” Remember the intent of the net-metering law is to allow you to produce as much power as you can consume. If you want to size your system to generate more power than you need you would become a power producer which is a different agreement than the net-metering one.

Sizing your Wind System

The first thing to do to determine the right size wind system for your needs is to look at your electric bill to see how much power you consume per month. Then, using the information from the wind analysis, you can determine how much power you will generate and that will determine the size and height of the wind tower you need to meet the net-metering requirements. Check with your town for permitting requirements and see what the height restrictions are in your area.

Wind turbines can be used for many different purposes to meet your energy needs. There are off-grid applications for home or businesses where you can use remote power to illuminate signs, walkways, driveways and parking lots or off-grid cabins and homes for example.

Wind Analysis Service

For more information on whether or not your home site is a good wind site or for a wind report contact the Green Energy Environmental Research Institute at www.geeri.org or email us at info@geeri.org