Why, Where & How to Do Wind Electricity

April 16th, 2016

Disclosure: I sell solar power systems in New Zealand.

As New Zealand’s electricity cartel ramps up the war on solar power, I’m starting to take a more serious look at the end game: Disconnection from the grid.

While I’m not sure how I want to handle this yet, one thing is certain: Wind power won’t be in the mix for us.

I’d be willing to bet that our land is among the worst sites for wind power anywhere in New Zealand. It’s dead still most of the time and when there is a breeze, it swirls around a lot.

As pessimistic as I was about wind power (it’s just dead obvious that there’s no way for it to work for us) I thought I’d read up a bit on it anyway, just to make sure.

Wow. It’s not that bad. It’s worse. *chuckle* The article below is an absolutely excellent and realistic look at small scale wind power.

Alternate title suggestion: Small Scale Wind Power: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

All of that said, if you have a genuinely suitable location, wind power can be good.

Via: Home Power:

Making electricity with the wind is not easy. As seasoned wind-energy installers with decades of experience, we—as well as thousands of others who live with home-scale wind turbines—tell a challenging tale. And the small wind industry today reflects those challenges, with long-established companies struggling and going under while the cost of reliable solar-electric modules continues to drop. If you think you want a wind-electric system, first think smart, then realistically.

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