How to Convert Wind Power to Electricity
- 1). Locate a place with ample amounts of wind that meets zoning requirements for wind turbines. Your location must have an average wind speed of 11 miles per hour (mph), and you must have at least half an acre with unobstructed wind access. You must also be allowed to have a structure of 30 feet or higher, and your local utility company will need to have an existing interconnection agreement for homeowners if you wish to use the grid as a backup.
- 2). Select a wind turbine of appropriate size and design. Wind turbines can be small for remote, small electricity needs, or they can be extremely large, generating 6 megawatts and using blades with a span of more than 200 feet. They can also have a horizontal or vertical axis, though most modern turbines have a horizontal axis.
- 3). Set up your wind turbine(s) in the appropriate location. As the wind blows, the blades will turn a rotor attached to a generator containing strong magnets and coils. As the magnets rotate, the magnetic field created around the coils will induce an electric current, which will then be converted to either alternating or direct current (AC or DC).
- 4). Store your electricity by using either a battery, capacitor or the grid. Because wind is not generally constant, you will need to be able to store some of the excess energy created while it is blowing to ensure that you obtain a constant supply of electricity. Most utility companies will provide rebates on your electric bill for any extra energy that you send back into their system.
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