Small wind turbine power for your home

[jetboatjohnny]

I found this interesting:

http://mariahpower.com/

I figure it would take a long time to pay for itself, at 2000kw/hr/year, at 15c/KW, thats only 300$/year, so figure 20 years (lifespan of product) including intallation. With incentives, it could change the math.
It would be a nice accessory to go along with an electric car!

[CNGLO]

Re: Small wind turbine power for your home

I've run the numbers on rooftop photovoltaics and they generally have a 30-40 year payback, even with government incentives.

[CraziFuzzy]

Re: Small wind turbine power for your home

I've run the numbers on rooftop photovoltaics and they generally have a 30-40 year payback, even with government incentives.

30-40 years on PV? Maybe you live where there ain't no sun. For me, I've run the numbers, and depending on the size of system, payoff would end up being 6-10 years, tops. That on a system that will last 30-40 years.

[jetboatjohnny]

Re: Small wind turbine power for your home

I looked into solar, my roof is perfect for it. I figured about 20 years to payoff, but there are some new incentives, I may look into it again.

[CNGLO]

Re: Small wind turbine power for your home

30-40 years on PV? Maybe you live where there ain't no sun. For me, I've run the numbers, and depending on the size of system, payoff would end up being 6-10 years, tops. That on a system that will last 30-40 years.

Maybe I live where electricity is cheaper than what you are paying.

Here is a pay back calculator from a manufacturer that wants you to buy solar panels. The calculator takes many, many variables into account--more than I would want to figure on my own or program into a spreadsheet.

http://solar.sharpusa.com/solar/ez_c...16,8-0,00.html

In using this calculator, I have found that your taxable (not gross) income can make a huge difference in the payback time. Same with whether you borrow on a home equity loan or pay cash, as it takes your taxes and the time value of money into account. The first page is rather simple, but the subsequent page is very detailed. Be sure to click the payback period link in the estimate summary box. I could get a payback in under 30 years using the numbers applicable to me only if I had twice the roof that I have and put on twice the panels I need so I could recover some of the cost by net metering. If I were to pay cash it would take almost 60 years (long beyond the life of the system, longer than I will live too) to get a payback.

Play around with it a bit and let us know what you think.


One study suggests that you may never achieve a break even on solar cells.

http://www.innovations-report.com/ht...ort-83108.html

[jetboatjohnny]

Re: Small wind turbine power for your home

I'll go with the second link
I figure the incentives have to be increased, state and federal to make it happen, and some new innovations in the panels. In time it will probably be worthwhile.
I like the wind tubine, I could probably get away with it in my neighborhood. If I could get 3,000 back as an incentive I would do it for sure.
I think my rate is around 13 cents/kwh baseline, and it goes up after you use a certain amount. I am on a cycling plan which give me about a 25% cut in my rate. Edison can remotely cut off my A/C compressor for up to 6 hours in 24 hours, and up to 6 (I think) times a year. The first time it cut off was on a Sunday of course at least 10 years ago. The only other time it cut out was one summer, about 9 years ago, I was unemployed and they cut me off 4 days (M-TH) in a row, right around noon when it was getting hot. After the second day I got my house as cold as I could in the morning. I read in the local paper that after the power fiasco that week, most of the people (mostly old where I live) bailed out of the program. Now I have a small unit in my bedroom I run that saves me from running the central unit, and saves me hundeds of dollars every summer. I have to use it when the temp goes over 100, but that is not that often.

[minimade]

Small wind turbine power for your home

i installed a 6.4 kwh solar system with battery backup at our home/business. In Pa our electric costs $0.18 per kw, and deregulation hits us in March of 2010. My system got a $20000 rebate and $1.00 per kwh produced the first year which ends 8/21/08. We sold our renewable energy credits to a coop and we receive almost $0.15 per kw plus the elect. savings....we have been paying the savings into the credit line so we hope to have entire system free and clear in 5.5 to 7 years....depending on rate hike. Delaware got a 75% increase in 2007 so everyone is wondering what we will get.

I applied for a 50% grant for additional 2.4KW kwh system for small business energy efficiecy and f we get it , should have reduced our annual bill from $3600 down to $750.

We have a small creek and ponds......a $2000 water baby 250 watt hydro-electric plant should produce as much total a/c as the $50,000 system we have, but I have been hesitant to mess in my creek ....maybe when we have a big flood event, the flow might change and the ponds flow might incease

the wind turbine should be more quickly paid back, however,....many of the turbines currently available have had repeated issues with software, bearing failure, and inverter troubles.

If your utility/state offer rebates to get a 5-8 year payback, I figures I would start the payback clock running. Small businesses may be able to take Sec 179 writedown of up to $115,000 in firstyear which could help in the cash flow analysis.

Good luck

[freedml]

Re: Small wind turbine power for your home

The first link is a pricy design which looks like it doesn't quite exist yet. I'm building a combo pv/wind system slowly, not depending on a single large inverter but rather a bank of small inverters. Solar panels are going for about $4-5/watt and a max 800 watt wind turbine will probably end up around $1000. No fancy software or other technology. Just make the juice and put it into the system. Electric rates here are low so payback will be long but I'm doing it as much for the 'cool' factor as for any savings (much like owning a CNG car!).

[freedml]

Re: Small wind turbine power for your home

Here's the link for an inexpensive wind turbine.

http://www.mikeswindmillshop.com/

[jetboatjohnny]

Re: Small wind turbine power for your home

They do exist, I have been in contact with them, they really make the product, but right now they are overwhelmed with orders because of their exposure on Pickens site.
Try getting an Ecofueler...they dont exist

[Wellarmed]

Re: Small wind turbine power for your home

You know I have a friend of mine from high school that had one of his legs blown off in Kuwait by an IED. His partner in the humvee did not fare as well. He is still in the Army even though he just lost his other leg from that incident years later. I wonder if I should run a ROI calculation to see if losing his leg(s) was cost effective and economically justifiable in exchange for the "Energy Security" that Americans feel that they are entitled too. I can tell you that what ever the balance is at the bottom of the reciept is NOT worth what this country has paid.

[jetboatjohnny]

Re: Small wind turbine power for your home

WTF does that have to do with wind power?
You have been blowing smoke in every thread.
WTF are you?

[cnghal]

Re: Small wind turbine power for your home

A happy, white, fuzzy bunny from "The Land of Enchantment".
Can't you tell?
BTW, if hot air spins wind turbines, someone's lighting up Albuquerque.

[CraziFuzzy]

Re: Small wind turbine power for your home

If there was a 'hidden' link to some crappy website in his posts, i'd swear he was a spambot... perhaps this is his form of therapy.. comes on here, picks a random thread, and commences ranting..

[cowboy]

Re: Small wind turbine power for your home

I have to say ranting can get old but I have to say I do think the price our boys pay for oil is very high as we have other fuels ie cng it is just mister esso wants all our cash no matter how high the price just my thoughts