Verticle Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT)

[AnOutsider]

Anyone here have experience with VAWTs? We were considering going with those over solar panels (or traditional turbines). Any comments on how it compares when it comes to maintenance, efficiency and costs?

Aesthetically I prefer them over solar or normal turbines. I'm told maintenance is supposed to be less as well. Working on pricing out systems ATM, just wanted to see if any folks here had experience with these?

 

[DCWitt]

Anyone here have experience with VAWTs? We were considering going with those over solar panels (or traditional turbines). Any comments on how it compares when it comes to maintenance, efficiency and costs?

Aesthetically I prefer them over solar or normal turbines. I'm told maintenance is supposed to be less as well. Working on pricing out systems ATM, just wanted to see if any folks here had experience with these?

I am also very interested in VAWT. Hope someone here has some experience and can point us in the right direction.

 

[wycolo]

You mean a stack of oil drums turning on old hubs, with cut outs flared to catch the wind? Spinning an alternator charging truck batteries? Great as yard art and the motion would keep the coyotes away.
--

 

[DCWitt]

I was thinking more of something like this:

 

[Robert.Boston]

The old, inefficient "oil drum" VAWT has been greatly surpassed. Although the efficiencies of VAWT designs are still far enough below horizontal designs that we aren't seeing them used in commercial-scale wind farms, the sculptural effect and relative quiet of VAWT has made it popular in residential and commercial settings. Companies like Windspire (Windspire Wind Turbines by Windspire Energy ) have a lot of installations.

 

[Martini]

I was tracking these guys for a while, but they seem to have gone dormant. Nice design, though.

http://home-energy.com/int/ebv200.htm

 

[evme]

I don't know how good these are but they look interesting:

http://inhabitat.com/hybrid-vertica...olar-element-for-efficient-energy-generation/

Some more info:

http://www.paneuro.net/the-mccamley...to-see-what-all-the-noise-was-or-wasnt-about/

 

[GSP]

Maintaining wind turbines is burdensome and dangerous for homeowners. I recommend investigating this before buying a wind turbine.

"Real" turbines have horizontal axis and are rated in MW, not kW. They are much safer, due to professional maintenance, and cost much less per kWh.

Buying wind energy from your utility is the way to go, unless you live in a remote off-grid location.

Solar is much more practical for homeowners.

Just my opinion, of course.

GSP

 

[AnOutsider]

Maintaining wind turbines is burdensome and dangerous for homeowners. I recommend investigating this before buying a wind turbine.

"Real" turbines have horizontal axis and are rated in MW, not kW. They are much safer, due to professional maintenance, and cost much less per kWh.

Buying wind energy from your utility is the way to go, unless you live in a remote off-grid location.

Solar is much more practical for homeowners.

Just my opinion, of course.

GSP

The builder doing my home is a "green" builder, and we looked into it because we didn't have any more space for panels and ground-mount is more expensive. Anywho, the end result was that wind in general just wasn't worth it, with VAWT being even worse. Bummer.

 

[Robert.Boston]

I've seen them used as, in effect, kinetic sculptures. If thought of as art instead of an energy-generating plant, they might make sense...

 

[AMPd]

City of Reno NV Windspires Go Up in Washoe Valley Neighborhood - YouTube

They look good

 

[AnOutsider]

City of Reno NV Windspires Go Up in Washoe Valley Neighborhood - YouTube

They look good

Many thought the same of the Karma :biggrin:

 

[AMPd]

Many thought the same of the Karma :biggrin:

Hopefully these turbines don't catch on fire, that'll slow down the sales a bit