Standards for Small-Scale Wind Power

The American Wind Energy Association is developing a series of standards that will measure the safety, reliability and performance of small wind turbines.

The standards, which the organization hopes to have in place by the end of the year, come amid increased interest in small-scale and rooftop wind power — typically designed for individual homes, farms and small businesses, and producing 100 kilowatts of electricity or less.

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“It’s not going to make turbines more efficient,” he said. “If someone puts a highly efficient turbine in a low-wind location, it’s still not going to produce any energy. We want to create standards that will allow consumers to know what they’re getting.”

John Breshears of Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects, which is responsible for an experimental rooftop turbine project in Portland, Ore., said that standards would be a boon for consumers by forcing manufacturers to be honest.

“Right now manufacturers can make any claim they want,” Mr. Breshears said, “and they do.”

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/28/standards-for-small-scale-wind-power/

I built a small vertical axis one 25 or so years ago mostly just to get some feel for how much power we're talking about. This time I'm planning to use this one to help offset the power our pellet heating stove uses.

And better at handling wind from any direction. I've been wondering why all the momentum still seems to be with horizontal axis. Maybe it's easier to elevate them where the better wind is.

thats why I'm going to go horizontal. All I have parts for is a 1000 watt system max. I'm doing if mostly just to do it but any drop in the electric bill would be welcome. I've got a pretty good location where the terrain and the trees funnel our southerly winds right where I plan to put it. A thirty five foot tower is all I'm planning as that'll put me right where that wind is directed. I'd say 90% or our winds are from the southerly direction so I ought to be ok with that.