"We'd like to think we can put a turbine on every rooftop." Reg Adams, WindTronics
Edison and a 1914 Detroit Electric, model 47
Posted on 11/03/2009 5:19:14 AM PST by Libloather
Innovation: A New Rooftop Wind Turbine
The WindTronics turbine can generate energy at low speeds.
By Nicole Marie Richardson
Oct 1, 2009
The answer is blowing in the (very gentle) wind
Generally, rooftop turbines can't produce electricity unless the wind is blowing six or eight miles per hour. This turbine is different. Developed by WindTronics, based in Muskegon, Michigan, it's only 6 feet in diameter and can generate energy at wind speeds of just two miles per hour. WindTronics moved the power-generating parts to the outside of the wheel, where the blades turn faster. Reducing the bulk in the center also allows the turbine to turn more easily. Says CEO Reg Adams: "We've turned traditional wind turbines inside out."
Aiming for the masses
Starting in November, WindTronics's turbines will be available for sale in Ace Hardware stores, under the Honeywell brand. The company hopes to sell 50,000 by the end of 2010.
Power production
The $5,499 device can produce up to 2,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, or roughly 18 percent of the average household's use, according to CEO Reg Adams. But that assumes an average wind speed of 12.8 miles per hour; most homes will see far less. Nevertheless, the machine brings wind power within reach for low-wind areas.
Edison and a 1914 Detroit Electric, model 47
Put the wind-turbines up in CONGRESS!
Pretty cool! Just take the batteries out of your volts-wagon, put this baby up on the roof, wire it up, and away we go! Perpetual motion for FREE! Don’t tell anyone before I submit my patent application.
Uh... buddy, can you give me a li’l push to get me going?
No need - the turbine would recharge those batteries.
6’ Dia. Well on a windy day this thing nailed down to your 1/2 “ thick plywood sheeting is going to tear your roof off and put it in your neighbors lawn.
Just for starters, The noise from it will drive your bride nut’s. It just won’t work. You need clean un obstructed wind as fuel. Too many currents around a building for that.
That said, people will buy them. Lawn art
When the price comes down in a year or two - I’m buying...
Why not just a good old fashioned sail?
If they give me a credit for $5,500 and free installation I may think about it.
“Power production
The $5,499 device can produce up to 2,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, or roughly 18 percent of the average household’s use, according to CEO Reg Adams. But that assumes an average wind speed of 12.8 miles per hour; most homes will see far less. Nevertheless, the machine brings wind power within reach for low-wind areas.”
That tells me everything I need to know right there. My calculations may be off, but it seems like it’d take about 20 years to pay for itself, probably more.
$5500 and it only produces 18 percent of what you need at its peak? What’s the payback on that?
“ideal for low wind areas”?
If you’re in a “low wind” area, the ideal power source is hydro, coal or nuclear, NOT WIND.
This green scam is getting bigger by the day.
Hats off to the hucksters that can make this sale.
The concept of these is actually a great inovation over other wind turbine designs. There are no gears and turbines to turn to create electricity. The fan has magnets around the perimeter of the fan and creates electricity similar to a copper coil on an electric motor.
PS. I am not an electrical engineer so feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
However, if these things are mass produced and cheaper(eventually) there really could be one on every roof.
Adding to the value are federal and state rebates covering anywhere from 30% to 100% of the overall cost.
The Honeywell Wind Turbine comes complete with a computerized smart box, inverter and inter connect switch to wire the system into a household panel.
http://www.earthtronics.com/honeywell.aspx
PFLR
$5400??? Damn, someones looking to make a little profit. It cannot cost that much to manufacture a 6’ windmill. Is it gold plated?
Why not buy stuff that works NOW?
The cost per kilowatt on this thing is enormous compared to “conventional” wind turbines and solar PVs.
I saw 2k kWh and thought “per day? that’ll do it!”, then I saw that it was per year. Not worth it in the least.
Folks, you need to be thinking “off grid”, because these bass turds are going to use the smart grid to cut you off. Guaranteed.
average cost of electricity = $0.12/kilowatt-hour from your utility
2000 kilowatt-hours/year x $0.12/kilowatt-hour = $240/year savings in electricity
$5499 / $240 per year = 23 years
23 years to recover your costs. If you put $240 a year into a savings account, with an interest rate of 2%, you'll have $7,061
Green Sucker Alert
It’s a decent idea that has some promise (I am a EE),
but the output is abysmal.
As soon as I saw put one on your car I knew it was phony. The best generators loose 10-15% and the batteries loose 10-15% efficiency so you put one on your car and you loose 20-30% of your energy. Charge up you car and drive 25% less far.
No battery bank, and that’s where a huge chunk of the cost of any wind/PV system resides.
IE, it’s still way overpriced.
But, what would be the environmental impact of all that slowing down of the wind, going thru fans everywhere? GLOBAL WARMING!
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