Lightweight Wind Generators Sail into House Boat Market

The small wind generator market is growing rapidly. Data from the American Wind Association reveals that the market expanded over 78 percent in 2008. Propelling the market is not only the low priced, sleek design and high-energy output of wind generators, but also new federal and state tax credits.

Boaters, especially owners of houseboats, are looking to include wind generators as another component of their alternative energy systems. And that’s not only because of the tax credits, but also because these new wind generators fit nicely into the off-the-grid and off-the-oil puzzles.

And that’s because wind generators can provide the energy boaters need when solar can’t, that is on cold, cloudy and windy days. Combined with anaerobic digesters, impellers, Energy Star Qualified electronic devices and insulation, many house boat and yacht owners are planning not only a clean energy future, but also a future of much lower energy bills.

To assure you purchase a wind generator that is right for you, consider the wind generator in context to the complete wind generation electrical system. A typical wind generation system includes the rotors, a generator, an inverter to convert the AC from the generator to DC for the batteries, and number of necessary support devices. These devices include a load diverting charge controller, the mounting tower, a lightening arrest circuit, a DC fuse or breaker, and of course a battery bank.

Some wind generators come complete as turn key systems, however many do not. So when you purchase a wind generator find out what else you will need. Also consider installation and maintenance costs. Installation costs may surprise you. However, regardless of the cost, make sure that you have a licensed contractor install your system.

Before you select a wind energy based system for your boat, define your boating energy needs, and define them in kilowatt-hours and in terms of alternating current (AC), direct current (DC) average, continuous and peak demand terms.

Besides the power and components of your wind generation system, there are a number of other specifications that need to be factored in. Common wind generation specifications include startup wind speed, rotor length, voltage output level, voltage output type (AC and DC), and the wind generators average yearly power production (often rated at an average wind speed).

One of the most widely looked at specifications is yearly or monthly power production, given in kilowatt-hours per year. But don’t take this specification as is. Look at the average wind speed that the manufacturer used to make this calculation.

Because wind generators are designed for specific wind environments, some wind generators are more efficient at lower wind speeds and others are more efficient at higher wind speeds. So to get the most for your dollar, find out your boating environment’s average wind speed and then ask the manufacturer for the efficiency rating at that speed.

Because wind speed increases with altitude you may be able to generate significantly more power if you mount your wind generator at the top of a very high tower. And that’s because the power from a wind generator is exponentially proportional (third power) to the wind speed. For example, if a wind speed of 2 mph produces 0.8 kilowatts of power, at 4 mph it will produce 6.4 kilowatts of power.

Also examine the wind generator’s physical specifications. For many the most important is the weight. Most small wind generators weigh in at about 20 to 30 kilograms. Also make sure the blade length will fit in with your design plans. Finally, find out how easy it is to disassemble the wind generator. Maintenance and portability is why.

Before you make your decision on a wind generator take some time look at the latest award winning hybrid systems, such as solar / wind and water impeller / wind systems.

The latest rope-free, lightweight impellers, combined with wind generators and underwater hydro micro generators offer a very sleek and powerful integrated solution. And one reason is that water impellers give you lots of power. In water mode the impeller starts generating power at about 2 knots and at 9 knots can generate up to 20 amps (12 volts).

Because of the fast pace of technological change, keep an eye out for new wind generator designs. Today’s basic wind generator designs, although taking advantage of the latest electronics and materials, haven’t changed that much over the years.

Emerging to replace these designs are multi-rotor designs and windbelt based designs. And these new designs are expected to reduce the weight and increase the power of wind systems dramatically.