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We love wind power! Just like solar electricity, wind energy can be used to directly power a load, or can be stored in batteries for later use. In fact, wind is really a form of solar energy produced by uneven heating of the earth’s surface. Wind power is clean, quiet and inexhaustible!! Although often less predictable than solar, it is available for more hours a day when your solar panels are “asleep.” Wind generators can be used alone or in a “hybrid” system. Hybrid systems of wind and solar are especially effective in the winter when wind can help provide winter backup of solar systems.

Is wind power right for you?

If you are considering a wind unit, it is critical to determine if you have the right kind and amount of wind. Some sites do not have enough, while some have winds that are too gusty or turbulent. A wind plant should be located within 100 feet of the battery bank, if possible, to avoid voltage loss. Further distances mean large wire and higher installation costs. It is critical that the wind machine receives clean wind! The generator should be mounted at least 30 feet above anything within 500 feet. The higher you go, in most locations, the more power you will make. Do not scrimp on your tower!

Types of Power Systems

Power systems vary in design depending on what energy sources are used and what purpose they must fulfill.

1. Grid-Tie Systems
Also called grid-interactive, grid-intertie, utility-interconnected and other such descriptive terms, grid-tie solar and wind systems built onto your building and property that connect directly into the electric utility feed. This is possible in areas that allow net metering, whereby a solar or wind powered system turns your electric meter backwards when it is producing more power than you are using. This type of system provides no backup power when utility power fails.

2. Grid-Tie Systems with Battery Backup
A grid-tie system with battery backup feeds excess solar or wind electricity to the grid and provides backup power when the utility grid is down. With this type of system you sacrifice some power generation efficiency in exchange for having power when there is a utility power failure. The amount of backup power you have depends on the size of the battery and electrical loads that draw on them.

3. Off-Grid Systems
This type of power system is independent of the utility grid. It can use solar modules, a wind generator or a combination of any or all of them to produce your electric power. Owners of this type of system often use a gas or diesel generator for backup when the power system does not meet all of the needs.