There are two different types of wind turbines; Horizontal axis and Vertical axis.  The most common of these two are the horizontal axis. Horizontal axis features the main rotor shaft and generator at the top of the turbine.  The horizontal axis is pointed into the wind. Most of these horizontal axis have a gearbox that allows the blades to turn quicker to generate more electricity.  The tower is what provides turbulence.  The turbine can be pointed somewhat upward and stand well above the blades.  The blades are made of durable material capable of withstanding high winds.

When you see these turbines in the field you may think that they are no longer helpful but there are several people who believe in using them still. Horizontal axis wind turbines can either turn upward or downward.  If they choose to turn the blades upward, they don’t hold good together for longer periods of time.  They begin to crack and breakdown in high winds.  When the blades are downward facing they stay in line with the wind longer and they can outlast through the high winds without breaking.  Because they are so durable it keeps the cost down as well.

Types of Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines

Windmills Consists of four or more blades, usually short, and can wooden blades. These were used to grind grain.  As the winds picked up it would rotate a mechanism inside allowing it to run the grain through a mill crushing it.

Rural Windmills was originally from Australia but later moved over to the USA.  Farmers found that this type of windmill was good to pump water and electricity to the barns and fields. This windmill had several blades and can still be seen today in fields.  They were constructed of metal usually in order to carry electricity for lights or maybe a radio.

Modern Turbines are what we have now standing in fields.  They feature three blades that are pointed at the ends. The reason for their unusual shape is because they have been proven to exceed wind velocity up to 6 times more, allowing for high efficiency and reliability.

The advantages of this type of wind turbine include stability, tallness, bendable, durable and strong.  The disadvantages my include cannot operate well close to the ground,  hard to transport over sea, difficult to install, not in big demand, there are concerns with how they affect radar, structural damage done with storms and wear.

There are good points and bad points to owning these types of turbines. They have been proven to work and you can have one or thirty one out in your field.  They do help to generate electricity and other great things that we would normally have to go without.

OffShore Turbines can be placed offshore in order to produce energy from wind in the air and from the water.  They don’t bother the view as much when they are out on the water and the noise that they make cannot be heard on land.  The average wind speed is higher on the water because the water has less surface roughness and can use every part of energy from the wind.  There are several different locations today that you might see wind turbines offshore and there are more building in the future.  The one main complaint with people and turbines is the noise they make.  It is constant and annoying to some.  The other complaint is that they are tall and not pleasant to look at.

While all of these are true the main reason for wind turbines is to find an alternative to using fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources to produce our power.  When a tower is built offshore it may cost more money in the long run because the towers need to be higher so there will be no restrictions. Turbines access power through undersea cable which may use high voltage direct current.  The sea salt may also cut down on the length of time these turbines stay in shape.

Near Shore These turbines can be seen but not heard.  They are on water so they can produce enough energy compared to being totally on the land.  Because the sea shore lines are considered to be very windy due to the tides coming in and the wind on the water, it becomes the perfect location for a turbine. There are issues and concerns with how wildlife is using these towers and zones for their nesting and habitats. There is another concern that the shoreline wind farms are not in the best interests of those who wish to come to the shore line to visit.  It becomes a sight to see and hear the generation of power through these wind mills.  The size of the towers can be minimal but this causes controversy as well because the smaller the tower the lesser amount of energy to produce.

Off shore and near shore are the choices we have.  There are advantages and disadvantages to each one.  We have to weigh the results with the problems to see which way may be best for everyone.

Building a wind generator is a project that can be a lot of fun. It is also important to keep safely your mind at all times. First you will need your supplies, ten you will assemble the generator, and then you will mount it and test it out.

First the supplies.

You will need an electric motor, a propeller, a tail, and a base to mount it. You will also need the electronics to use the energy produced. This will include a charge controller, wiring and a battery bank.

The motor should be a low, high DC voltage motor. One great place to look for them is ebay. It will need a gear or some form of mounting to attach the propeller. It will have to be fastened to the base in a secure fashion.

You will also need a propeller, you can make it yourself or buy one pre-made. You can make one out of common pipe with the instructions in this wind power instructions E-book.

Now that you have the motor, and the propeller you will have a basic idea of how big your base and tail will have to be. It is also time to have a mounting stand for your new wind generator. It is important it is sturdy, and tall enough to keep the propeller blades out of harms way.

Build it:

O.K., get started with your base, and mount the electric motor to it. Be sure it is secure, as with the propeller attach it will have to withstand a fair amount of pressure. Next attach the tail to the base, this can be done with screws.

Next you will want to wire the motor so it will come down the mounting base. Because each mounting base varies so much you will need to find what works in your application. It is important to use good wires to get all the electricity to your batteries.

Now we attach the propeller. Once the propeller is on, use extreme care in handling your wind generator. In just a couple of MPH wind the propeller can be incredibly dangerous. Get it mounted on the base and wire it up to the voltage regulator, and then off to your battery bank. Now you are creating electricity from wind energy!

Test it:

Right away, as the blades first start to spin, you should see voltage. You will need 14-20 volts to charge a 12 volt battery. If you are getting this, you will be good to go, if not you will need to make some modifications.

Good luck and have fun!

If you are serious about doing this

project you can get a wonderful guide here:

Efficient Planet

It will walk you through step by step in much

greater detail then I just did in that article.

Also it will teach you how to make solar panels,

and live a greener life!: Efficient Planet

Wind energy is cost effective clean electricity. Europe, America and Asia are increasing their wind production levels. The companies that produce commercial wind turbines are booked up for years to come. Boone Pickens has a plan to get us off foreign oil through the use of wind power and natural gas.

Wind generators are huge, and produce a massive amount of electricity. Many of the ones built today are on the north Atlantic. Building them in water has advantages, but is also expensive. One advantage is the size. Because ships can tow, and haul huge loads the generators themselves can be quite massive. Building on land is limited to roads and truck sizes.

In October, 2008 the United Kingdom gained the lead in wind power production, when it surpassed long time leader Denmark. 19.7% of Denmark’s electricity is produced with wind power. And today nearly half of all wind turbines produced around the world are produced by Danish manufacturers.

So how does wind power work?

Wind Power uses turbines to convert wind energy into electricity. This is done by turning a generator with the turbine. The current is run down and connected to a power grid, a storage device or a load. Because electricity is only converted when the turbine is running electricity will need to be stored for non windy periods.

Commercial wind farms are interconnected to the grid. The electricity they provide is small in relation to the grids need. When the wind is blowing, the electric company simply produces less natural gas electricity and vice versa for when the wind stops.

In a residential, and farm setting you will need to be connected to the grid, perhaps with a reversible meter or have adequate energy storage. Most people use a battery bank, with deep cycle batteries. For a large operation Pumped-storage hydroelectricity or other forms of grid energy storage could be the answer. It could be appropriate to supplement your electricity with solar as well.

So What Do I Do?

Tell people about wind power. Call the power company and tell them you would like to see less coal power plants and more wind farms. Call and Email your senator, congressman, governor, and even the president. Tell your family and coworkers and friends about this site and others that teach about responsible energy production.

Another thing you can do is set up your own wind generators. You can build one yourself for a couple of hundred dollars. They are great if you want power at the cabin, or perhaps just for the shed. Some people use them for the whole house!

Check out ways you can live more efficiently, and build your own wind generators and solar panels.

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