Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts with the label Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

IS THERE A ROLE FOR VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINES?

There are two types of wind turbines:  horizontal and vertical axis.  The type you mostly see, from those classical Holland windmills to utility wind farms feature blades that revolve around an axis horizontal or parallel to the ground.  The other type has an axis that is up and down or perpendicular to the ground.  Today I feature the latter variety. Wind energy conversion systems have pros and cons.  The good: Non polluting. Domestic source. Relative low maintenance. Wind farms can continued to be farmed for agriculture. About the cheapest source of renewable electricity. A few cons: Not reliable.  Need storage for home or farm applications. Thus storage costs can be a problem.  Meaning today, mostly batteries. A threat to wildlife like birds and bats. Deforestation can create an environmental impact.  Deserts are great. Noise. Unsightly. NIMBY:  various communities, especially Hawaii, are saying Not In My Back Yard. Last year, wind energy produced 9.2% of all the electricity in the