Small wind turbines: Power to the struggling people
Whenever wind energy is mentioned, most people think of giant wind turbines that can power entire cities. However, wind power is more versatile than we assume. While a single Haliade-X, the world’s most powerful windmill, could power 16,000 households, there exists another type of wind turbines that better suits small-scale electricity needs. In short, wind power has something for everyone. And for households, hospitals or small businesses, Organic Yemen recommends micro wind turbines.
In this article, we explain what small wind turbines are, where they can be used and why we recommend them in Yemen. We also detail Organic Yemen’s solutions for residential wind turbines.
What are small wind turbines?
Small wind turbine systems are also known as micro windmills, residential wind turbines and a few other names that you will see us using in this article. A domestic, or home wind turbine is a device used to turn wind energy into clean electricity to power homes and other small buildings as well as small-scale activities.
Micro wind turbines used in residential applications typically range in size from 400 watts to 20 or even 100 kilowatts, depending on the amount of electricity you need to generate. While the previously mentioned Haliade-X has a 220-meter diameter, small wind turbines typically have a diameter up to 10 meters wide.
Image: weatherstationary.com
How does a home wind turbine work?
The way residential wind turbines work is very simple. The wind blows, turning the blades of the windmill and causing the axis to rotate. The axis is attached to a generator which produces direct current (DC) electricity. An inverter converts the DC electricity to alternating current (AC) electricity which is then used to power the home.
Why residential wind turbines?
Yemen has already been benefiting from renewable energy resources. Today, over half of the population uses solar energy for lighting. While this is something Organic Yemen encourages, we encourage relying on wind power even more. Our reasons for that are listed below, including some factors where wind beats solar power.
1. Small wind turbines are cost-effective
Domestic wind turbines are relatively cheap. What’s more is that if you generate more electricity than you need, you may sell the excess to a local energy company or to the national grid.
2. Residential wind turbines work at night
Unlike solar panels that need sunlight to operate, domestic windmills can work at night, providing an almost day-long electricity supply.
3. Home wind turbines work in bad weather
Small wind turbines can survive bad weather conditions. Actually, wind turbines are what you can rely on when the weather is bad. Amid intensified droughts, heatwaves and the increasing blackouts due to powerline outages, residential windmills can help Yemenis build resilience toward weather fluctuations.
Five best home wind turbines in 2021
4. Micro wind turbines are long-term investments
Not only can domestic wind turbines power your home or small business, but also generate passive income to support your family or ventures. Compared to other traditional investments, such as the stock market or real estate, small wind turbines energy production is much less volatile.
5. More efficient than solar panels
While solar panels harness only 15% to 20% of solar energy from the sun, wind turbines can harness 50% of kinetic energy from wind. Moreover, wind power has a lower carbon footprint than solar power.
6. Wind is sustainable, renewable and free
As long as the earth rotates and the wind blows, you will continue to generate electricity for free, all while keeping your carbon footprint minimal. Moreover, simple micro windmill systems can have batteries to provide backup power when the wind is not blowing.
What are the uses of micro wind turbine systems?
Do not be deceived by its name, residential wind turbines can be used in so many places other than homes. But let’s start with that then move on to other uses of micro wind turbines.
1. Powering homes
Most Yemenis do not have access to reliable electricity, if at all. This is where domestic wind turbines can come into play. Home mounted wind turbines can generate electricity to light your home and power appliances like washers, air conditioning systems, heaters and more.
2. Rural electrification
With no existing grid in rural and remote areas, micro wind turbines can serve as a low-cost and reliable source of electricity.
3. Water pumping
Not very far from Yemen, Saudi Arabia has attempted to utilize wind power in pumping water for remotely located inhabitants who are not connected to the national power grid. Domestic windmills of 1-10 kW were used to generate energy from wind and pump water at Arar, Rawdat Ben Habbas and Juaymah localities in the Saudi kingdom.
Similar research studies were done to explore the potential utilization of small wind turbines to create wind power in the Sultanate of Oman.
With Yemen’s promising technical potential, the same can be applied in the country, especially to benefit farmers who are also livestock producers.
DIY small windmill water pump
4. Powering telecom towers
Some small wind turbines are designed to be mounted on telecom towers to provide clean energy and reduce the dependency of towers on diesel generators. This helps decrease the carbon footprint of the telecom industry which counts millions of telecom towers worldwide.
Organic Yemen small wind turbine solutions
With vast experience in renewable energy, Organic Yemen takes pride in its qualified team and wide network of weather stations. Combine that with the company’s partnerships with local research centers and international experts. The result is your ideal partner for wind power investments, whether for small-scale wind turbines or for larger wind farm projects.
Here are some of our solutions for your wind power and renewable energy investments.
Accurate, ready-to-use weather data and analysis
With our already-established weather stations across Yemen’s governorates, we provide ready-to-use wind data to guide your investments and support your feasibility studies.
Establishing new weather stations for wind readings
Not only has Organic Yemen got a wide network of established weather stations, but also it is ready for building new measuring centers tailored to your own business needs.
Recommending and installing small-scale wind turbine systems
We can recommend the right micro wind power equipment that suits your requirements. Moreover, we can provide and install residential wind turbines from the world's top manufacturers. Some of our top picks are Missouri Freedom, Eco Worthy and Pacific Sky.
Image: altestore.com
Consultation services
Contact us now for other services not mentioned above. We are open for customizing wind power and other renewable energy solutions based on your specific needs.