Your Questions About Wind Generators Cost
Charles asks…
What size and cost for windmill power for school needed?
My school is trying to get an energy saving wind generator to help make it “green.” Our physics class is working on the cost / size issue, and I would like to know an estimate for both. I have been researching and according to my teacher our school uses 100,000 KWh each month.
admin answers:
There are two options here.
1) Install a wind turbine to meet the building’s maximum demand. This allows the school to “disconnect” from the grid.
2) Install a wind turbine that reduces the school’s carbon footprint by producing enough kWh to offset all the electric energy used by the school.
I suspect your teacher is interested in option # 2, since all you were given is the energy usage of 100,000 kWh per month.
The average wind turbine only produces about 25 to 30% of its rated power (RP). A really good location might get up to 40%. This value is referred to as the Rough Capacity Factor or RCF. I will assume your location has wind conditions that will result in an RCP of 30%
RP x RCF x 24 hours x 30 days = 100,000 kWh.
Solve for Rated Capacity:
RP = 100,000 kWh ÷ (RCF x 24 x 30)
RP = 100,000 kWh ÷ (.30 x 24 x 30)
RP = 100,000 kWh ÷ 216 hours = 462 kW.
Round this up to 500 kW.
Assuming an average cost of $3000 per kW, a 500 kW wind turbine is going to cost you about $1.5M before tax incentives and other credits.
Daniel asks…
what are the components needed in order to make both: a solar-panel and the system to apply it to daily use?
I heard on an add (trying to be VERY persuasive for me to get the guide) that building solar panels, wind generators and the system to put them to use, is easy and much cheaper than getting the set and it implemented by specialist, but the guide cost $50 so i cant be bothered, but i would still be interested in learning more about it for free! So anyone got the know how?
admin answers:
Well, you can’t make a solar panel. Unless what they were talking about was buying solar cells (those small 1″x1.5″ cells) and soldering them all up together to make a panel. Then buying or making an aluminum frame and putting a low iron glass sheet over it. Then wiring up the diodes for the panel you just made. I guess it would be cheaper if you don’t count the hours of labor you would have to put into it to make one panel. Oh also, you would need an inverter to convert it to AC. Some people just buy broken solar cells which cost next to nothing and make a panel out of that.
As far as the wind generators? I guess it would be far less time consuming than the solar panels and that might be worth doing but you will still need an inverter. They are actually pretty handy for camping, I made one that gave out 24v at max with a voltage regulator. The only problem with that is that you’re going to need more than one and they need to be bigger. Plus you need a healthy amount of wind. They are just trying to make a quick buck, this isn’t something practical really.
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