Worldwide
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Provided that favorable wind resources are in place, small wind turbines can deliver considerable benefits for individuals or small communities. They are relatively easy to build. They can deliver important amounts of energy which can be used for a large variety of applications, from battery-charging to powering equipment. Compared to photovoltaic panels, they operate also during the night and in winter, when the sun is weaker in many regions of the world. Additionally, by producing AC current they can easily be coupled to standard electrical equipment. |
Savings are difficult to estimate, since it depends a lot on the weather conditions where the wind turbine is installed; however, once installed in the correct location, the wind turbine can deliver electricity for several years. |
An average cost of USD 200 to 1,000 should be expected when using quality components, but the final cost can be lowered if recycled materials are used. Additionally, cheaper solutions can be found online, but the quality of the product deliver is not always matching the requirements. |
If built correctly, the small wind turbine should last a minimum of 15-20 years. |
Limited. |
Wood, steel, copper wires, magnets, bearings, epoxy resin (or equivalent). |
Although the construction can be done by anyone, a certain knowledge of handling tools is required. Furthermore, some locations may require a taller tower, due to limited wind resources. |
A construction manual can be purchased online: https://pureselfmade.com/ |
Knowledge of working with tools and someone to instruct (or a manual).
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Not relevant.
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Not available.
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The installation and usage of a wind turbine means that electricity can be produced freely for the whole lifetime of the turbine. This means that fewer or no diesel generators will be needed, resulting in a considerable reduction in emissions.
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Widespread around the world.
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Relatively simple construction which can deliver free electricity for several years.
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It is necessary to either attend a course or to follow the manual.
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Not available yet.
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Materials are quite basic and can be purchased everywhere.
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Not relevant.
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Open source model.
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http://folkecenter.eu/pages/Publications_and_downloads_full.php#Wind
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https://pureselfmade.com/ and Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy, Denmark.
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Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy
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2020-12-11
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