| Wind energy is an excellent alternative to a solar | | | | needed.(however you can hire a machine shop to do |
| power system. In many places, when the sun is not | | | | some steps for you) |
| shining, the wind is usually blowing. Wind power is very | | | | |
| helpful in the winter to capture both the gentle and | | | | In most locations, strong winds very rare while |
| ferocious mountain winds when there is less sunlight | | | | GENTLE winds (5-15 mph) are the most common. It is |
| but in need of high power. Wind power is not suitable | | | | best to make large, sturdy wind turbines that produce |
| as the only source of power in many locations. It is just | | | | good power even in low wind speeds, and are able to |
| used to fill in the gaps when sunlight is not enough to | | | | survive high wind events while still producing maximum |
| produce electricity. | | | | power. The power available in the wind goes up by a |
| It is not that difficult to make a wind generator by | | | | factor of 8 when the speed of the wind doubles. |
| yourself. You will need some basic hand tools and | | | | Other important factors are rotor size and tower |
| power tools, with some degree of dedication. We | | | | height. The power a wind turbine can produce goes up |
| define wind generators of 2000watts as large | | | | by at least a factor of 4 as you double the rotor size. |
| generator and 700-100 as small generators. Large | | | | And making a tower higher gets you above turbulence |
| generators requires very strong construction and small | | | | for better performance and substantially increased the |
| generators can be built easily. We highly recommend | | | | power output. Putting a wind turbine on a short tower |
| that you try to build a small wind turbine before even | | | | is just like putting solar panels in the shade! |
| thinking about building a large one. You will need to cut | | | | Learn more about how to make a wind generator at |
| and weld steel, and a metal lathe should be | | | | home. |