Small Wind Investment
Here’s an approach to small wind that’s trying to raise money via crowd funding. To anyone considering this investment, I invite you to do the math associated with the customer’s cost of energy. Approximately what is it going to cost to buy, install and maintain this, and what’s the energy worth over its projected lifespan? From there, calculate the length of time required for it to pay for itself. Now, obviously, some locations are better than others, but given the unappealing/impeded wind velocities close to ground levels, I’m guessing the answer to that last question is somewhere been 150 and 200 years.
There is a reason small wind is a failure.
Hi Craig,
Small wind turbines, do they work ? Are they of any value ? Are they a practical source of energy for households ?
The answer to the first question is most decidedly Yes, although it’s a little difficult to understand the value of the ‘Tulip’ design.
Small wind turbines can definitely prove useful in certain locations and applications. Farmers have been employing the technology for centuries while the two small wind turbines provide a useful source of auxiliary power on my yacht.
As a source of electricity production for households or commercial buildings, weoll that’s a very different proposition !
You are quite correct, small, low level wind turbines are just ineffective, expensive wastes of time and money.
But I do admire the cleverly logic of the sales pitch eg; ” according to our own research, the revenue per square meter is 80% higher than solar.”
The impression is the ‘Tulip’ wind turbine 80% most efficient than solar if installed on the roof of a house. What’s easily missed is the “per metre” qualification !
I may be completely incorrect and unnecessarily casting doubt on a useful invention, but my doubts were aroused by the refusal of Dr. Farb, inventor of the ‘Tulip’ Wind turbine to submit working model for independent testing by the US DOE or Argonne Labs Ann Arbor, MIT or any recognized independent research facility.