Comments on: Small wind is growing fast http://polizeros.com/2008/04/21/small-wind-is-growing-fast/ Musings on politics: anti-war, global warming, peak oil and otherwise Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:48:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: DJ http://polizeros.com/2008/04/21/small-wind-is-growing-fast/comment-page-1/#comment-152102 DJ Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:36:39 +0000 http://polizeros.com/2008/04/21/small-wind-is-growing-fast/#comment-152102 We can and do-- the only limitation is we can't sell back more than we use. But in winter, we use far more than we generate anyway so that's not an issue. What we don't use is effectively purchased by the utility at retail rates because it runs our meter backward. Of course, if we could supply the grid and get money back, we might install a 5Kw unit instead of a 200-watt unit. The economics of that are less clear. We can and do– the only limitation is we can’t sell back more than we use. But in winter, we use far more than we generate anyway so that’s not an issue. What we don’t use is effectively purchased by the utility at retail rates because it runs our meter backward.

Of course, if we could supply the grid and get money back, we might install a 5Kw unit instead of a 200-watt unit. The economics of that are less clear.

]]> By: Bob Morris http://polizeros.com/2008/04/21/small-wind-is-growing-fast/comment-page-1/#comment-151969 Bob Morris Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:03:56 +0000 http://polizeros.com/2008/04/21/small-wind-is-growing-fast/#comment-151969 Which is one very good reason that people who generate their own energy should be able to sell it back into the grid, even at a discounted price. This would help pay for it, and lead to more people doing it. Which is one very good reason that people who generate their own energy should be able to sell it back into the grid, even at a discounted price. This would help pay for it, and lead to more people doing it.

]]> By: DJ http://polizeros.com/2008/04/21/small-wind-is-growing-fast/comment-page-1/#comment-151959 DJ Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:19:13 +0000 http://polizeros.com/2008/04/21/small-wind-is-growing-fast/#comment-151959 Our 200-watt unit is plenty quiet (except when gusts go over 40 mph). The problem is not noise-- it's affordability. The $350 unit cost over $1,500 installed. It'll need to run for 25-30 years to pay for itself. http://asymptoticlife.com/2007/12/18/the-quest-for-inexpensive-wind-power-part-1.aspx http://asymptoticlife.com/2008/04/15/the-quest-for-inexpensive-wind-power-part-2.aspx Our 200-watt unit is plenty quiet (except when gusts go over 40 mph). The problem is not noise– it’s affordability. The $350 unit cost over $1,500 installed. It’ll need to run for 25-30 years to pay for itself.

http://asymptoticlife.com/2007/12/18/the-quest-for-inexpensive-wind-power-part-1.aspx
http://asymptoticlife.com/2008/04/15/the-quest-for-inexpensive-wind-power-part-2.aspx

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