Small domestic wind turbine
Whether for professional or personal reasons, for our homes or businesses, we are all increasingly interested in renewable energy, not only to save money, of course, but also to reduce our own carbon footprint for the benefit of the planet and future generations. Today, there are many renewable energy technologies available to help us achieve our goals, using energy from the sun (photovoltaic), the earth (geothermal), or the wind (wind power).
In this article, we will focus more specifically on the problem of choosing for one’s own home between a small conventional wind turbine , that is to say mounted on a mast, and a small wind turbine mounted directly on the roof of the house .
Wind turbine installation and return on investment
The key concern is the payback period for your future wind turbine installation . You need to ask yourself: will my installation be profitable? And when? Because you must consider both the economic and environmental aspects of a wind turbine installation , whether small or large. In this particular case, whether it’s a mast-mounted or roof-mounted turbine , if the installation is done correctly, the payback period is roughly the same.
Installation of domestic wind turbines and nuisances
Another thing to consider is noise level . When you compare a pole-mounted wind turbine with a roof-mounted one , you’ll find that each has a fairly significant noise level . Generally, these aren’t what you’d call loud or disturbing , but they are certainly audible. If you prefer a quiet life, the conventionally pole-mounted option is usually better, especially for those with large properties.
Construction of a rooftop wind turbine
On the other hand, if you’re a skilled DIY enthusiast, building a rooftop wind turbine is much easier and doesn’t take up any extra space on your property. After all, you won’t have a particularly tall mast replacing your favorite tree… Furthermore , rooftop wind turbines are generally much cheaper and also much simpler to maintain. It has also been shown that it’s preferable to install rooftop wind turbines in the center of the roof rather than on its edges. Indeed, turbulence is much greater around the perimeter of the roof than in its center. Following this simple advice helps extend the lifespan of the wind turbine , and therefore more reliably achieve the return on investment goal. However, it’s worth noting that mast-mounted wind turbines generate a significantly larger amount of electricity , even in less windy areas.
Rooftop wind turbines are subject to excessively irregular winds.
Profitability of rooftop wind turbines
For wind energy to be economically viable , wind turbines need strong and consistent winds . A rooftop wind turbine has neither strong nor consistent winds. Wind force increases with altitude, and the top of a house’s roof is quite close to ground level. Even worse, all the surrounding obstacles, such as trees, various buildings, and even the house itself, create turbulence for the wind. Thus, instead of a fast, steady breeze flowing in a nearly constant direction, you get short, jerky gusts from inconsistent and unpredictable directions. This turbulence not only reduces the turbine’s efficiency but also causes mechanical stress that shortens its lifespan .
That’s why our advice at the end of this article is this: think big, or do nothing! If you are nevertheless aiming for the installation of a very small wind turbine , such as a rooftop wind turbine , think twice about it.
