FAQ

Wind Turbine

With an off grid system what happens when my batteries are charged and I don’t need any more energy?

Once the batteries are charged a controller sends the energy to what is known as a diversion load, also known as a dump load. This is usually a water or air heater. Such a diversion load is sized to handle the full peak production capacity of the turbine.

How do I determine the wind speed for my site?

There are a few options here, one is to purchase a retail weather station and install it where it will provide representative data to your site. Keep in mind that if installed on your house it will show lower figures than at the actual installed height of a wind turbine. The another option is to purchase a small wind turbine and install it and monitor the power it produces, this option costs more however it also offers you a small amount of power which you can use on an isolated load.

Where can I put the tower for my wind turbine?

Towers need to be located in an area where there is an area known as the fall zone around the tower which the radius is the same as the tower height. This is a safety precaution so that in the event of the tower falling it does not fall onto your or your neighbors’ house.  Depending on the type of tower chosen crane access may also be required.

What are my options for towers?

There are a few different types of towers. There is the mono pole, the guyed pole and the trussed towers. Trussed towers are not very common anymore due to their aesthetics. Guyed poles are easily serviceable and do not require a crane for installation. Mono poles are the best in terms of aesthetics however require a crane for installation and servicing.

How high should the tower be?

The best case is to have the tower at least twice as tall as the nearest obstruction. The wind speed increases the further away from the ground and obstructions which is due to friction. We recommend a minimum pole height of about 30m. In Europe 40 meters is the shortest pole from most manufactures.

Why is wind turbine cut in speed so important?

Just like an airplane wing there needs to be a minimum wind speed before there is enough lift to take off. Wind turbines also need a certain speed of wind in order to start producing any electricity. Some areas have average wind speeds below most manufacturers cut in speed. This is also why elevation above obstructions is also important. If you would like us to assess the potential of your site please fill out the webform.

How much power can you get from the wind?

Power is directly related to the cube of the wind speed. Wind power increases exponentially with wind speed. In order to generate power the wind speed must be above the cut in speed of the wind turbine. The higher the tower and the least obstructions will result in less turbulence and a higher wind speed and therefore more power. In order to calculate accurately you need wind speed data from on site or from the nearest weather station. If you would like us to assess the potential of your site please fill out the webform.

With a grid tied system, what happens if I am producing more electricity than I am using?

With a grid tied power system any energy produced that you don't use is sold to BC Hydro through an agreement know as the Net Metering. BC Hydro will credit you for electricity that you provide to their system and if you have a large system or use very little energy you could be net zero. Net zero means over the course of the year you produce all of the energy you need.

With a grid tied system, what happens when the power goes out?

On a basic grid tied power system the inverter is dependent on the grid.  You would be without power if the grid signal is lost. If you invest in a battery backup system, when the grid goes offline you will be the only house in your neighbourhood with electricity!

What is “BALANCE OF SYSTEMS”?

Balance of systems is the components which complete the system. Photovoltaic modules are the means of collecting the suns energy, however in order to use the electricity in our houses we need to condition it into AC (alternating current) so that it is compatible with our appliances. There also needs to be components for safety. Balance of systems typically includes combiner boxes, breakers, disconnects, inverters and batteries when off grid.

What is “GRID TIED”?

When a power system is "grid tied" it is connected to the utility provider such as BC Hydro. By connecting to the grid you do not need batteries to provide peak loads and you can sell excess electricity to BC Hydro through the net metering program. Batteries can still be part of the system if you wish to have a backup system.

How big of a power system do I need?

That depends on your goals and if you are connected to the grid or not.

Grid tied systems can be as large as you want. Often budget or emission offsets are influencing factors in the final decision.

Off grid systems are sized based on a load calculation which comes down to a balance of lifestyle and budget.

Can a wind turbine be put on the top of my building or house?

Yes, We are a dealer for a roof mounted turbine known as Swift. These turbines are designed to be quiet and perform well in turbulent wind which is associated with being close to buildings. These are popular in commercial application and we warn potential residential customers that their may be some vibrations detectable from within the house.

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