My Home Solar Panels

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   So Washington gas send me a letter asking if i would like to change to wind power energy?
   should i change to 50% or 100% wind power energy?
   what r some pros and cons of using wind power energy?
   i know its green, less gas, coal, nuclear energy will be use less and it will save some money every month
   but they asked if i want 50% or 100% wind energy as if theres some thing bad about it...is there?

   • ANSWER:
     You should figure out which one costs more. The reason why they are asking is probably because you will get a different energy baseline for each kind of power used. They are essentially asking you if you are willing to pay more per kilowatt hour in order to use "green energy"

2. QUESTION:
   What was the first country to have wind power energy sourse?
   i have to do this stupid project on energy sources and i chose wind power!

   • ANSWER:
     probably medieval holland. they built windmills to drive pumps to drain and maintain water levels; as much of holland has a high water table.

3. QUESTION:
   How is the energy wind power generated?
   How is the energy wind power generated?

   • ANSWER:
     Just like Thomas Edison did it. Moving coils going through magnetic fields. OR moving magnets going through coils. The windmills usually travel slowly so there is a transmission that speeds up the shaft speed.
     There are many different generating scemes but all involve systems that put 60 cycle power (most at 3 phase) back into the power lines. There are systems that shut down the windmills and face them correctly when the wind speed exceeds the design speeds for the turbines.

4. QUESTION:
   What are some disadvantages and advantages of wind power/energy compared to other sources of energy?
   Like geo-thermal energy,solar power

   • ANSWER:
     Advantages:

     - There are no carbon equivalent (CO2e) greenhouse gas emissions once the wind turbine is built, although some are produced in manufacturing and installing the wind turbines.
     - Wind has a lower cost per installed megawatt (MW) of generation capacity than some other types of renewable generation (e.g. solar, biomass).
     - Wind is a mature and established generation technology, which is widely accepted by energy utility companies (compared with emerging technologies such as biomass gasification/cogeneration, which have more technical risk).

     Disadvantages:

     - Wind power still has a higher cost per installed MW of capacity than some conventional energy sources (e.g. coal, hydro).
     - Power production is intermittent, depending on wind speed (this is also true of solar and marine renewable generation). This means that generation utilities have to either have backup generation (e.g. gas peaking plant), demand reduction systems (e.g. hot water ripple control) or hedging arrangements with other utilities in place to ensure they can deliver power to consumers and maintain the required power quality for the grid.
     - Sites that make good wind farm locations (places with bare land and strong, steady wind flow) often are in remote places a long way from major electricity grid connection sites. This means there can be substantial added costs to connect generation sites to the grid.

     Comparisons with Geothermal & Solar:
     - Geothermal power production is a well established technology (over 100 years old) and can provide high levels of baseload (steady supply) power in large volumes.
     - There are a limited number of sites suitable for geothermal power development, even in countries with plenty of geothermal activity (e.g. Italy, New Zealand, Philippines). Not all geothermal wells are suitable for commercial development because a combination of large reservoir, high heat and high pressure is needed to make power in most cases.
     - There are companies developing more efficient geothermal technologies (e.g. Ormat) that allow smaller, lower heat or lower pressure wells to be developed.
     - The direct heat from geothermal can also be used for industrial processes (e.g. woodpulp processing, timber drying and food processing).
     - Geothermal power typically has large startup costs (tens to hundreds of millions of dollars) and for this reason is usually only undertaken by large energy utilities.

     Solar:
     - Solar has been used for around 30 years in commercial applications (e.g. backup power for telecommunications sites) but has only grown into the mass market in the last ten years or so.
     - The cost of making photovoltaic (solar power) panels continues to drop with mass production and competition. Also, new technologies such as concentrating solar thermal and thin-film photovoltaic panels are increasing the choices available to users.
     - The solar power market is splitting into two areas: utility solar plant (10MW+) and distributed solar, which includes small rooftop and community installations.

5. QUESTION:
   What things can wind energy power?
   Wind energy can provide electrical power to provide lighting right? What if you had gas power? Can wind energy provide gas power, for instance to heat up a hot water tank?

   Can anybody recommend websites?
   I didn't mean converting wind power into gas. I meant using wind power as a substitute where gas is used, e.g. for heating a hot water tank. I appreciate all the replies.

   • ANSWER:
     Wind turbines make electricity not gas but electricity can heat up a water tank too.

6. QUESTION:
   where should solar energy, wind power, and geothermal energy systems be located on a farm?
   Please give a brief description of where each of these should be located on a farm and why.

   Solar energy system:

   Wind Power system:

   Geothermal Energy system:

   Thanks

   • ANSWER:
     Often solar panels are placed on a roof. If it is on the main house it will also keep the house cooler and electrical wiring lines will be shorter. But if they are on the ground it will be easier to keep the panels clean. In either place it should not be shaded.

     A wind power system should be as high as possible and away from trees and buildings that might obstruct the flow of air, but you would not want to locate it so far away that electric lines pose too much resistance.

     A geothermal system can be built in many different ways. If there is a pond nearby that is deep enough using this for the ground loops is the cheapest method. Trenches can be dug and a long loop system installed or most commonly two wells can be drilled and water will be pumped from one go through the system and be deposited in another well. The equipment that uses the loop will be located within the house.

7. QUESTION:
   How is energy generated from wind power stored?
   and is this storage of electrical energy harmful to us in a similar way as power generated through normal measures (such as oil and coal plants - known to cause tumors and birth defects) under high tension cables/power lines? If there is a storage plant for wind energy, what's the distance from a house that's considered safe? I'd love to install a wind turbine, so i figured to ask before installation.

   • ANSWER:
     First, it is not as efficient to produce any type of electricity in large quantities and then store it temporarily in batteries for later use. The capital cost of installing a large windmill would increase significantly if you also had to have a battery system sized to store the output. In addition, you would lose efficiency when you then had to conert the battery power back to alternating current and the associated equipment to perform that step. Therefore, most commercial or utility owned wind farms are directly connected to the utility grid.

     Second, many studies have been performed and none have proved a link between electro-magnetic fields and the conditions you refer to above. But, since you are worried about the possibility, the fields drop off significantly as you move away from the source. While I don't have the software to calculate exact results, I will simply say that if you are 300 to 500 feet from the nearest transmission line, or 50-100 feet from the average residential line, the fields generated by the line will be significantly less than those that already exist in your house.

     Since you are looking for a home installation, there is no way that the fields created by the amount of energy that you produce will even come close to the fields already created in your house. Standing directly in front of your windmill system would be no different than standing in front of your dishwasher.

     Also, speaking about a residential system, I read about a good idea the other day that made sense to me. Hook up the windmill up to a buried or insulated water tank. The electricity from the windmill will power the element and heat the tank. Then, the water in the tank is like your battery storage. The water can then be used to supplement the cold water going into your water heater, or, if you have enough wind, you might be able to connect it to a radiant floor heating system. There would be other ways to do this and perhaps better ways to utilize the stored heat.

     Check out James Dulley's website. I've included the link below and I think this is where I saw this. He may be using solar energy in his example instead of wind. Regardless, he has other solar and wind ideas that you may find interesting.

     http://www.dulley.com/gtopics.shtml

8. QUESTION:
   what disadvantages does wind power of energy has?
   what disadvantages does wind power of energy has?what disadvantages does wind power of energy has?what disadvantages does wind power of energy has?what disadvantages does wind power of energy has?what disadvantages does wind power of energy has?what disadvantages does wind power of energy has?

   • ANSWER:
     The giant turbines.

     Leather and Jeans has a very good answer!! Thumbs up =)

9. QUESTION:
   Describe all of the renewable energy alternatives: wind power, solar energy, and biomass fermentation?
   o What are some challenges with using and managing wind power, solar energy, and biomass fermentation as alternative renewable
   energy resources?
   o Name at least one other renewable energy resource.
   o Include a response to the following: Nonrenewable energy resources include coal,
   oil, and natural gas. Describe three common challenges with managing
   nonrenewable energy resources.

   • ANSWER:
     Okay, I don't think anyone's taken this seriously yet, so...

     How about, hydro-electric, geothermal steam, wind turbines, augmentative passive solar, such as water heating and daylighting (somwhat different then solar lighting, or skylighting, although skylights count.) Also let's not forget rain harvesting, and gray-water usage.these save water, and energy from a treatment, billing, delivery standpoint.

     Now that I asnwered the name other part: challenges, what happens when there is no sun/wind/water-flowing, if you have all of these, it won't happen that often, but when it does, are batteries a practical solution? Won't they eventually wind up in land-fill off-gasing? If you only use one or two of the 3 majors, what about when any of those aren't available? Availability is still a big concern, hopefully that will be the next stock-market bubble and drive a massive influx of green-products.

     The common challenges with non-renewables, rather than starting from an environmental standpoint, how about we start with what they're called. NON-RENEWABLE, eventually we will run out. It's theorized that we've found all oil on earth, and will start a downward turn on production by somtime in 2008 or 2009. Aside from that, there's the obvious global warming issues.

     O hope this helps some.

10. QUESTION:
    What can be done to improve the uptake of wind power energy?
    any ideas?
    cheers.

    • ANSWER:
      Wind turbines vary wildly in performance depending on where they are put. Locations that are exposed and with large open spaces are well suited for wind power and can generate a huge amount of electricity. A small home wind turbine can produce as much as 00 worth of electricy in a year, but only if these wind conditions are met.

      Wind turbines make very good economic sense IF they are located in a good area, but the trouble is that those who could take advantage of their wind resource are unaware they are sitting on a goldmine.

      Too many people put up turbines in poorly suited areas and are disappointed. As a result, wind turbines are a misunderstood form of green energy.

      Greater research and awareness needs to be brought about amoungst the general population.

11. QUESTION:
    what is the economic cost associated with Energy Resources: Wind power?
    what is the economic cost associated with Energy Resources: Wind power?
    what is the economic cost associated with Energy Resources: Wind power?
    what is the economic cost associated with Energy Resources: Wind power?
    what is the economic cost associated with Energy Resources: Wind power?

    • ANSWER:
      The economic cost associated to green energy such as solar, wind, waves energy has great impact on individuals and nation .
      Individual can reduce paying energy bills by using wind or soloar power for electricity or heatings and states can be not aliened to others usual energy ressources such as petrole or nuiclear, they are no more dependant for others countries and can also generate national energy without high cost and clean not altering environnement. You can by yourself build wind power network by yourself and reduce up to 65 % your energy bills; goto : http://www.windpowercost.org and get free courses there.

12. QUESTION:
    Renewable energy - wind power How much does wind power cost?
    I really have no idea how much windmills cost. I was just curious if there is a site somewhere that has costs to be windmills that are maybe like 500kW, 750kW or 1 megawatt producers of electricity? Does anyone know an approximate price or website with pricing for these?

    • ANSWER:
      I was working in west Texas last year for several months in the middle of thousands of them. I am an engineer so discussed this a lot with engineers building them.

      Seems the average cost was about 2 million for 2 megawatts (Very high compared to conventional / nuclear)just for initial capital cost. They work great. Only take 6-8 MPH wind for them to start generating. The power from them is much higher cost primarily due to the high initial cost and the fact that the wind just doesn't blow all the time so your investment may sit a lot of the time generating nothing. They also require enormous surface area and a large electrical grid compared to conventional.

      I like wind power and Solar power, and think we should build more in deserted areas because even though the power is more expensive, it reduces emissions and reduces our dependence on foreign oil. It cannot provide the huge amount of cheap reliable 24/7 alternative energy we need (Only Nuclear can do that), but it will help.

13. QUESTION:
    How do places with wind and solar energy sustain their power?
    Some places rely on solar and wind energy right? To power their homes and such. How do they use energy in the night or when there is no wind? Do they have something that stores the energy like a big battery or something?

    I have to “make” a green city and it will use renewable energy source including solar and wind energy. How would I make the wind and solar energy sustainable and not have shortages of power?

    • ANSWER:
      Small places, like a remote house or an island, might have batteries. A large place, like a city, would be connected to a "Grid", or electrical energy transmission system. If the wind stopped blowing, deep in the night, they would pull energy off the grid, from a nuclear plant, or coal-burning generation station, or hydroelectric project many miles away. A town on an island might have a large diesel generator.

14. QUESTION:
    what type of renewable energy is Wind Power?
    what type of renewable energy is Wind Power?

    • ANSWER:
      wind turbines are machines that rotate whenever the force of the wind blows by it. It transforms kinetic energy into mechanical energy. The latter is then converted into electricity. The power generated is dependent of the actual wind power. The stronger the wind, the more power is produced. The wind is a very good source of power as it is available all the time. It replenishes very quickly.

      >...kinetic energy into mechanical energy...

15. QUESTION:
    How will wind energy (wind power) help decrease the risk of an energy crisis?
    no wikipedia answers please =)

    list source if you can.

    • ANSWER:
      wind energy is a inexhaustable & non conventional sourse of energy. it can be used to rotate the turbines of the wind mills which leads to generaton of electricity. thus wind energy can decrease the risk of energy crisis.

16. QUESTION:
    If we harness wave and wind power for energy use a lot, will that slow the Earth's rotation?
    This question is not as stupid as it sounds: it relates to a law I half-remember in Physics, about the preservation of Energy.

    • ANSWER:
      Not wind and waves. Tides, yes. Tidal drag on the ocean floor transfers angular momentum from the earth's rotation to the moon's orbit. Tidal power plants would increase this by a negligible amount

17. QUESTION:
    What mass-energy storage systems are available to store energy from wind-power??
    By way of example, if a two-tier reservoir system was constructed and during times of excess wind energy the surplus was used to pump water from the lower to the higher reservoir, and the water was then used to run hydro-turbines during times of lower wind energy production.
    Would some type of 'green energy battery' like this, be one answer to the drawbacks with wind-power?

    • ANSWER:
      Yes

      It's so tempting to write an essay on this in here... must resist.... resiiiiist....

      (1) Wind Is Not The Only Fruit

      Pumped storage already exists - the UK has four stations. But they were built to balance off conventional power generation. Sizewell B nuclear PS is UK's biggest indigenous balancing problem - if one of the two units flicks off, that takes 1320MW off the system instantly. The cross channel interconnector can take 2000MW off. Wind doesn't do that - each turbine is autonomous, and even the largest offshore machines are never bigger than 5MW each. They don't all flick off at once.

      (2) Time Matters

      Electricity balances at all instants. http://www.dynamicdemand.co.uk for more. System Operators must cater for imbalances on all timescales. They do this by:

      - "instantaneous": large consumers able to switch off if frequency drops too low.
      - sub-second: spinning intertia
      - seconds: head of steam
      - a few more seconds to a couple of minutes: pumped storage
      - minutes: reserve (standing) generation
      - hours: warming instructions to large generators
      - days->years: "The Market Shall Provide"...

      (2) Pumped Storage

      Pumped storage is the cleanest, greenest of batteries, and you get 70-80% of the energy back that you put in. It costs a kings' ransom to build one.

      (3) Compressed Air Energy Storage

      USA and Germany have one plant each; think there are more in the post. Basically they divert the hot compressed air halfway through its travels through a gas turbine into a disused salt mine. It is part of a fossil power station though so it's tricky to say how much you get back for what you put in. I'm not sure of the numbers.

      (4) Deferred consumption

      Industrials can stop consuming during peaks or say in the first hour after a storm-driven wind turbine shutdown to allow other plant to get going. This type of energy storage is very efficient. http://www.flexitricity.com/

      (5) District heating with hot water storage

      Lots of examples, mostly in Denmark. District heating takes waste heat from generators to heat hot water. If there's a nice big hot water reservoir, then the generator can generate mostly when the wind is low while still allowing people to consume heat when they want to. http://www.emd.dk/

      (6) Hydrogen and associated uses.

      http://www.pure.shetland.co.uk/ - this is a really nice project involving a wind turbine, an electrolyser, some hydrogen bottles, a fuel cell, and a vehicle. The energy just nips from one to the other depending on where it's needed.

      There are other uses for hydrogen, and if you make it opportunistically when the wind is up, you're storing energy. http://www.anglesey-wind.co.uk/ is an enterprising outfit with lots of ideas on that score.

      Transport is the very obvious alternative use scenario for renewables - you just fill up the stock of H2 bottles at filling stations when your wind farms are at full tilt, and then swap them for the empty ones of passing motorists bottle by bottle. Renewable cars, howzat?

      (7) Batteries

      Don't knock 'em! Off grid power at a Youth Hostel up in the highlands of Scotland relies on hot water, lead acid batteries, and a single wind turbine. Bliss (trust me I know, I arrived there very wet and cold one day). Plus there are other batteries - http://www.pacificorp.com/Press_Release/Press_Release36434.html is a Canadian system built in Utah

      (8) Fossil fuel

      And this is what we actually do rely on as an energy store, and would continue to rely on if wind had never been thought of. Unconverted fuel is energy storage. Don't blame wind for needing storage to back it up - it all needs that!

18. QUESTION:
    How do I get a job in the renewable energy field, e.g. wind power?
    I have an MS in engineering, 20 years experience, mostly in the software business working with clients in a teaching/consulting role. What education/experience is required for wind energy and how do I get it?

    • ANSWER:
      An Electrical engineering or Mechanical engineering degree would be key, since renewable energy is about electrical generation and about structural integrity.

      But I doubt that more specialized engineering is required, other than experience.

19. QUESTION:
    Is there a way to make car paint that collects solar and wind energy to power an electric car?
    If the paint could collect solar energy to charge a battery, and then once the car starts moving, other fibers in the paint could convert the wind passing over the car to electrical energy, wouldn't this be a way to decrease our dependency on fossil fuels. Is there any technology out there that can do such a thing?

    • ANSWER:
      No. Air drag is one of the chief components in auto efficiency. What you describe would increase air drag.
      As far as the solar part goes most cars have about 12 square feet of surface in the sun when the car is in the sun. 12 square feet can produce 900 watts. In four hours that would be 2700 Watt hours. A gallon of gasoline is about 37,000 Watt hours. What means is is that it is going to take over 100 days to produce the energy of one gallon of gasoline and everything has to be perfect.

20. QUESTION:
    Can anyone suggest a wind energy power plant that has caused controversies and that I can find lots of info?
    I need to write an essay in economics about it

    • ANSWER:
      Yes. There is a proposed project for a huge wind farm off of Martha's Vineyard. Many of the towers will be visible from shore. Even people that generally favor wind farms are opposing this one, probably because it is in their own playground.

      Just google Martha's VIneyard wind farm proposal, or Cap Cod wind farm, and Nantcket wind farm. THeir may be too much info to weed through. THe Army Corp of ENgineers also has a feasability study one it. Use the hyperlinks to get around and pick what you want- there is great detail on it and many good summaries, both pro and con.

21. QUESTION:
    what environmental impact does energy resource:Wind power has?
    what environmental impact does energy resource:Wind power has?
    what environmental impact does energy resource:Wind power has?
    what environmental impact does energy resource:Wind power has?
    what environmental impact does energy resource:Wind power has?

    • ANSWER:
      Although wind power plants have relatively little impact on the environment compared to fossil fuel power plants, concerns have been raised over the noise produced by the rotor blades, visual impacts, and deaths of birds and bats that fly into the rotors (avian/bat mortality).

      Unlike most other generation technologies, wind turbines do not use combustion to generate electricity, and hence don't produce air emissions. The only potentially toxic or hazardous materials are relatively small amounts of lubricating oils and hydraulic and insulating fluids. Therefore, contamination of surface or ground water or soils is highly unlikely. The primary health and safety considerations are related to blade movement and the presence of industrial equipment in areas potentially accessible to the public. An additional concern associated with wind turbines is potential interference with radar and telecommunication facilities. And like all electrical generating facilities, wind generators produce electric and magnetic fields.

22. QUESTION:
    What do you know about Wind Energy Power?
    I am doing a project and i've got stuff off the web, but i always get better answers off here. Any help is welcome. thanks

    • ANSWER:
      It's a great way of getting money out of the government, but an absolutely c**p way of generating electricity. They would save more energy if they replaced every permanent-pilot gas appliance with one using electronic ignition.

23. QUESTION:
    what kind of energy does wind power work?
    wind power energy

    • ANSWER:
      Kenetic energy of the wind is converted to mechanical energy by the blades and into the shaft which subesquently turns a generator to produce electrical energy. You could reverse the process and have electric power to a motor to turn the shaft of a fan to create a breeze.

24. QUESTION:
    What are the benefits of wind power compared to nuclear energy?
    What are the benefits of wind power compared to nuclear energy and which countries already use wind power?

    • ANSWER:
      Wind power- no chance of meltdown; less people to manage; no waster
      Nuclear- more power; more efficient; more reliable; better overall
      Not sure about the countries

25. QUESTION:
    wind power; rational energy into electricity?
    how does wind power work?
    i know that
    the turbine blades capture wind energy and start moving,
    they spin a shaft that leads from the hub of the rotor to a generator
    The generator turns that rotational energy into electricity.

    but how does the generator turn the rotational energy into electricity?

    please include a reference if you can.
    thanks

    • ANSWER:
      See the following website for a neat working model generator::

      http://www.wvic.com/how-gen-works.htm

26. QUESTION:
    Is it feasible to use wind energy for backup power if you are in a "0" region on the Dept. of Energy's map?
    I understand you probably could not depend upon wind energy for complete power, but I'm assuming it's just not the most cost effective means?

    What about just buying components for a person who has the skills to fabricate their own windmill? I'd really like to hear personal stories from people who have done this themselves, but good internet site referrals are welcome, too.
    Ok...it's a one. I've looked at so much information, I've lost track...

    • ANSWER:
      You're not getting answers to your question because it is not clear what a "0" region is. PNL wind classes range from 1 to 6, and WES wind classes range from 3 to 1. Neither of these defines a "0" wind class. The extent to which wind power is cost effective depends on the winds at the location where the windmill is installed, which leads back to the question of wind class.

27. QUESTION:
    What is the cheapest way to harness solar and wind energy to power your home?

    I live in a very hot and open area, so solar energy will work perfect since the sun shines the whole day with no shadows from trees, and since it is open it is also windy at times too

    • ANSWER:
      One of the cheapest ways is to take advantage of any passive solar energy you can. If you have any south-facing windows, keep those curtains open all day to warm your home.

      Solar hot water can be done very cheaply with a simple system that uses coiled black hoses on your roof. You pump the water up into the hose, it warms as it flows through the hose on the roof, then back down to be used as warm water. (that is a very simplistic explanation, but you get the idea)

      For about 0 - 0, you can get yourself set up with a solar panel system or a wind power system, if you're willing to learn how to do it yourself. This is the method that will save you the most money in the long run, as it will eliminate your power bills. You can get the installation guide to do this here: http://www.solar-powered-home.com/solarpowerhomereviews.php

28. QUESTION:
    So we can use wind turbines to generation Energy, ie Wind Power. The Earth has many more powerful elements ...
    So we can use wind turbines to generation Energy, ie Wind Power. The Earth has many more powerful elements ... Could these be harvested to create Power?

    • ANSWER:
      Yes we can. We just have to be weened off of nuclear and oil generated power. Many companies would be hurting and many people would be out of the job if we switched to natural power over night. We are slowly but surly switching to natural power. California is using tidal power for some things. Some places are using wind power. The ecological park down the hill from me gets their power from the sun. Some houses on my road have solar panels on their roofs for solar power. We are slowly heading in the right direction. Some companies and other places use geothermal energy (heat from the Earth's interior for power).

29. QUESTION:
    how does solar power and wind energy help the environment?
    I put that it is a flow resource, therefore, it is unlimited. I also put supply and demanD. there is more energy needed than can be supplied. byy using sun and wind as a source of energy, we can allieviate some of the strain on the energy crisis. what else can I put? PLEASE HELP ME GUYS ! : ) thanks .

    • ANSWER:
      solar power and wind energy will help the environment by using natural resources and not wasting.We don't have to use other natural resources such as minerals and it would save a lot of time and effort.we should be more compassionate of mother nature.

30. QUESTION:
    If wind energy power fields are so financially sound;why aren't more private companies doing it?
    I ask because of all the wind energy jobs being advertised. I think it is unfair that the government has, not only an advantage, but the ability to shut down and cap other companies out of existence.....but here are my questions

    Why does the government have to ne involved at all?
    Will the energy output be worth it (be able to pay for) for the land, construction, workers maintenance and every other cost that is involved.

    If it was cost efficient, why didn't more Private companies do this?
    Is ir because the land could be used for much more money-making projects.

    If all goes well with this new project, will wind power etc,be a source for money in addition to lessened need for taxes? (that is after the initial costs)

    The way I see it, If there s money to be made somehow, someone WILL do it.Why is this not being more taken advantage of.
    Main point-
    Does this mean that gas/oil will be taxed to the point where they will not be able to stay in competition with government sponsored/paid for alternative energy? It "could" solve one pronlem, but if the goveernment continues these iactics it will essentaially shut dpwn and staganste private growth and the economy as a whole.
    It seems to have, and could progress to what could be perceived "fascist". Government contolling what should be perivate sector jobs and deciding what the country "needs". Facsism doesn't just mean warmongering as MANY think. Remember Nazi means - National Socialist Workers Party. Not take ver the world and kill ppl. party.
    Just to make it clear. I am not in favor of wind energy, per se'. I am just against the government's gigantic investments in it and basic "monopoly" of sorts (i used monopoly very loosely). I keep seeing commercials about how over 15,000 (18,000 comes to mind) new plants will be made by the government and need workers.(which is good, except I will be paying them)
    Basically, I do not believe the government should be involved, or especially own or controll businesses/ I don't really care about alternative energy for the most part. I think if anything we should pefect nuclear energy, especially fusion..
    That was my point. Not let the gov dictate and epend our money on whatever they feel like. (AND money we don;t have).

    • ANSWER:
      yea, sure and when we run out of oil and the whole world goes back to the middle ages, people are going to say "well now, do you think we should try that green energy out?" But then it will be pretty much too late and will be stuck with out electricity and riding bicycles around. Not to mention not have the means to construct one.

31. QUESTION:
    Wind Power?
    Wind Energy?
    "950W of power at 45km.hr winds
    Delivers 100 Kw / hours a month at an average wind speed of 5.4 m/s
    Adjustable voltage (12/24/36/48V)"

    Can someone please tell me what that means? And my question is would you be able to indefinitely power a small fridge, a TV and other things on that wind turbine which costs 000? I'm posting this many times because I'm not satisfied with the answers I already received. People are just not making it simple enough to comprehend. Its all spanish to me.

    • ANSWER:
      What all the technical detail boils down to, is that the system will deliver a limited quantity of low voltage lighting. Say enough for outside area and security lighting is about it.

32. QUESTION:
    What are some positive and Negatives to Wind Energy/Power?

    • ANSWER:
      An eye sore and noisy, but good for the environment.

33. QUESTION:
    How much carbon credit is available on hydro power projects,wind energy,plantation plants?
    any other benefits available for these projects

    • ANSWER:
      There is no carbon credit in the US. It's been talked about, but that's all.

      .

34. QUESTION:
    name and details of companies who are interested in development of wind energy power in jharkhand India?

    • ANSWER:
      you can contact suzlon india and nepc micon

35. QUESTION:
    what percentage of canada 's total energy use is dependent on wind power energy ?

    • ANSWER:
      Percentages are so defamatory! You should ask -'what number of homes are successfully sustained year-round , by wind power alone? ' This will give you a clearer idea of what is really going-on.

36. QUESTION:
    What would create more power from wind or water energy? Multiple small generators or one large one?
    What would create more power from wind or water energy? Multiple small generators or one large one?
    Also, what determines the output of an electrical generator? Would size or speed of revolutions change the output?

    • ANSWER:
      I think the easiest way to explain this is to start at the beginning. Think of the flowing water (or air) as a momentum-carrying body that has kinetic energy that can be captured by your generators. The larger the area covered by your rotor (the blades of your wind or hydro generator), the more energy that can theoretically be produced. The swept area of the rotor is a circle - as you know from math, the area of a circle is pi multiplied by the radius squared. Therefore, the energy you can extract from generator increases proportionally to the square of the blade length (the radius). Therefore, it is generally much more efficient to have one large generator than it is to have multiple small ones. This is playing out in the wind industry today - 20 years ago the most cost-effective wind turbines were around 10-50 kW each, 10 years ago they were around 100-500 kW each, and today they are 1000-3000 kW each!

      The output of a generator is dependent on the amount of torque that is applied to it and the speed at which it rotates. The generator needs to be sized appropriately according to the size of the rotor - you could but a 3000 kW generator onto a 50 m rotor diameter but it wouldn't be very efficient. a 500 kW generator would be better sized to a 50 m rotor, just as a 3000 kW generator is appropriate for a much larger 100 m rotor diameter.

37. QUESTION:
    how many people currently use wind power/energy for electricity in the united states?

    • ANSWER:
      Wind energy provides a little over 1% of the total United States power supply, enough to fully power an average of 5.6 million households. However, many households use some wind power along with other forms of power generation, so it's hard to say how many people are actually using at least some wind power.

38. QUESTION:
    Wind power and wind energy?
    what is the difference between wind power and wind energy?

    10 points for best explanation.

    • ANSWER:
      Wind power is just the pure power of the wind and how it can be turned into wind energy, which would be the by product of wind power. First you harness the power, than release the energy.

39. QUESTION:
    What is the most used form of renewable energy: solar or wind power? (In Maine, USA)?
    what is most used form of energy in Maine? Wind vs. Solar Energy? Which produces most megawatts, and which is owned more? No oppinions please, just please have proof. (websites, books ect)

    • ANSWER:
      Can't find figures for Maine.

      USA-wide, there is far more wind power than solar power:
      http://www.maine.gov/oeis/docs/OEIS%20Comp%20Energy%20Plan.pdf

      Over 34,000MW USA-wide, with 175MW in Maine:
      http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_installed_capacity.asp

      They think solar across the US could hit 28GW by 2016:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_the_United_States#cite_note-0

      And that's with very fast growth and most of that will be in the sourth.

      So I'm going to go with wind.

40. QUESTION:
    If you had a chance would you use solar panel energy and wind energy to power your house or car?
    I wish to hear your opinions about using thess forms of energy.
    what do you like about this, want don't you like?
    Ohh and if you have any info where I could learn more please share the knowledge, it would benefit us

    • ANSWER:
      Nope, nope and nope. These "forms of energy" are not useful on a house alone. While they could be used quite well on a city or county sized scale they are too expensive for the house owner to handle. This is less true in southern and southwestern states where the sun's energy (The winds are a product of solar energy) is stronger. (consider this: one 0 110 watt, 10v PV cell will provide you at peak solar exposure (sometime in the summer with no clouds at noon) a cool 9 amps of power, almost enough for your computer. But forget any heating or cooling of your house, cooking, or big televisions. )

      What most people don't understand, likely because the powers that be don't want them to, is that only about 9% of the energy used in the US is electricity for domestic use. 1/3 of the energy used in this country is used in transportation and 1/3 of that in cars, most of which are needless. Another third i used by manufacturers. So to become greener we need to make transportation more efficient (people can walk and ride bikes). Too many good are moved by trucks where railroads are 15 times more efficient. Not to mention that machines themselves last 50 years or more as opposed to a truck's 10 years,

      You must understand that it was a major boon, though insidious, that we were able to tap this highly concentrated pool of the sun's energy, OIL. It has made the marvels of this society possible, as well as the damage to our little blue home. Not that the ancients were to be outdone. The expansion of the Sahara and the deforestation of Europe was mostly done and completed by the Romans and the Carthaginians and the Greeks some 2,000 years ago.

      If your interest is to save money and energy, have your city provide most of its own energy, solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and use it to power a public transportation system. At the same time consider a passive solar heating unit. At latitude 40 (most of the US is below that) it can reduce your heating and cooling demands by 90%. They are about three times as expensive as a conventional furnace, but will pay for themselves in two years. (http://www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook/HeatCool.html#ACTIVESPACE)

41. QUESTION:
    What should i do for a display of solar and wind powered energy?
    im doing a senior project i've done the paper and now i need to do a display that im going to judged on by my teachers and the community. My topic that im doing is the benefits and drawbacks of solar and wind powered energy. i need an idea on how to display my topic. if you have an idea please help me!!!!!

    • ANSWER:
      Found the following YouTube lecture from Arosa Solar Energy Demonstration Lakewood Cheder at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut0988zeA-M you might take some ideas what to say and what not to say.

      I see some FAQs in regards of Solar energy at http://www.arosaenergy.com/faq.html that might help you with your lecture.

42. QUESTION:
    how much energy is wind power producing compared to other renewable energy?
    I'd love this to be shown in a graph or a table but it doesn't really matter...
    Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      Hey Miranda, the Energy Information Administration has a periodical on this, called the Electric Power Monthly. You can google it, or the phrase, "percent wind power US," and look for a link to the EIA website. In that monthly, there is a column on the right with long lists of graphs and charts on all things generating, like coal, biomass, solar, wind, and so on. The short answer to your question, at least in the US is between 3 and 4 % today. It doesn't sound like much, but consider two things. First, this is the generation that is occuring today, it doesn't include the huge number of farms under construction that are not operational yet. Second, last year alone, wind power in the US increased by 40% over the year before, and that trend is continuing, at least for the next couple of years. The goal is 20 % grid power from wind by 2030, and actually we are probably going to get there a little earlier than that. It is hard to gauge because of changes in our overall electric demand, which is largely a function of market and economic activity.

      Most of us in the renewable energy neighborhood agree that the best source for electric power in the future is a diverse one. While I'm excited that wind will reach it's desired level on contribution, I would also like other sources to catch up. Solar could easily take 10% with technological advances, not larger farms. Hydro is probably where it will stay, we have already built hydro plants in all the good places. Biomass has great future prospects, but there will still be a place for some coal, oil, natural gas and even nuclear. The one thing we have not pushed until lately is efficiency improvements. Our home is a good example. In the 10 years we've lived there, we have changed some light bulbs, added timers, replaced appliances and altered some of our habits. Now we use less than half what the average home on our street uses. Anyone can do that with technology available on the store shelf right now, but very few of our neighbors have even tried. Good luck Miranda, and take care, Rudydoo

43. QUESTION:
    What is a Good but Simple Way to Compare How Wind Power and Solar Energy can Move an Object?
    And What's a Good Experiment to Prove This?

    • ANSWER:
      I would say by comparing how many Watts either source could produce under efficient conditions. Once you've got the energy they're both going to move an object in an equal ratio; it doesn't matter where that energy came from.

      In some manner it does matter what we're talking about moving though. If we're talking boats that's completely different from cars or something else.

44. QUESTION:
    What kind of magickal energy/power does wind have?
    If I'm outside and the wind rushes through my hair, I always find inspiration or the solution to a problem that I've long been having. Does wind carry the power of inspiration?

    • ANSWER:
      All elements carry a power that only you can feel. For you, this may be inspiration. For me, it is exhiliration. For another, it could mean hope. Just as the fire represents to me power, and strength, it could mean to someone else the Soul, or rage and anger.

45. QUESTION:
    What is the cost to install Geothermal heating system in Alberta? Also, Solar Energy & Wind power to my house?

    • ANSWER:
      Great to think green energy for your home, I want to suggest you a link that can forward you free courses on how to build your own wind power network at home: http://windpowercos.org. Usually a home wind mill cost bitween " Better infomarion , you can find it at : http ://windpowercost.org
      thanks to green energy.

46. QUESTION:
    energy from wind power?
    Energy from wind power is becoming an increasingly significant source of energy, considering that the price of oil is getting dearer. This is especially so for oil-deficient developing nations like India which meet their energy needs by importing oil. Providing facts and figures, analyze the opportunities and challenges that wind energy companies face in setting up wind farms in India. Also, do you think wind energy is viable if the government decides to stop extending subsidies?

    • ANSWER:
      WInd power is good for Eg take TamilNadu there is Big power demand complusary 2hr Power cut in all over districts in TN you know why because of the Wind power there is an major drops in windpower between 2007 & 2009.the climate is changing.TN Maximum wind between April to August but its not a condition for past couple of years

47. QUESTION:
    how does wind power produce energy?
    i need help with my science assignment...and 1 of the question is

    HOW DOES WIND POWER PROUDCE ENERGY...can you help me find the answer please

    • ANSWER:
      what a wind turbine does is harness solar energy that has been converted into wind energy, the turning of the rotar make a constant movement that spins magnets in a generator inside the wind turbine, its the converted to the normal voltage and amperage to transport.

48. QUESTION:
    How long will it take for wind turbines to take over and provide the energy to power our country?
    Wind turbines that are strategically placed around the would harvest wind energy 24/7 with out using a drop of oil except say for the occasional maintenance crew that has to drive up to the turbine.

    Which candidate will push us further and harder in to the new age where we don't depend so much on foreign oil.

    • ANSWER:
      From what I've seen Democrats seem to be pushing harder for clean energy than the Republicans have. From what I've seen on the 2 candidates, O'Bama seems to be going in the direction I want to see the country go.

49. QUESTION:
    What percent of wind power does the United States produce?
    I have been wondering about the wind power, like windmills lately, here's some other things i wondered
    Where is one of the largest wind farms in the world? how many wind turbines are on that largest wind farm?
    which country generated the mostwind energy? How much did they generate in 2003?
    which country generated 686 megawatts of wind enerrgy?
    U.S. wind energy can power how many U.S. homes?

    • ANSWER:
      Hey cella, these are pretty primary questions
      China is largest producer of wind-power, US follows them with around 40,000 MW generation. ( postiion change happned like in 2010),
      US still have the largest wind power farms you can look up rest of the info here
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power

50. QUESTION:
    How fetch and wind energy affect the power of waves to erode?
    I need it urgently, thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      i love that scene from back to the future part 3

      i could not stop laughing!!

      where Marty walks into the bar..and one of Tannens friends said

      "will you take a gander at them moccasins?, what kind of skeens is dem?"