Bad News on Small Wind Turbines

Treehugger has this very interesting post which talks about British research that indicates that while small sized wind turbines may have applications in some cases, overall, their efficiency is not always as good as that of large ones: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/01/small-scale-wind-turbine-power-output-claims-overstated.php Again, it does becomes important to consider the environmental conditions at the location where a particular type of system of generation is used - in SOuth Asia it would be solar photovoltaics and solar thermal generators. In Vancouver as a comment on the Treehugger page says, it would be a micro hydro-turbine. Just more evidence, if you ask me, that experimentation is required across the board as far as all types of renewable energy are concerned in order to get the best results.

To use a fossil-fuel parallel, if people need to look at front, rear and four wheel drive cars and these in different body styles for different purposes, then why on earth shouldn;t they also look at developing different devices for specifically extracting clean power from different natural phenomena?

A Very Interesting New York Times Article on Small Wind Power

When people living as far apart as California, South Asia and Africa have the same problem getting consistent electric supplies from their respective utilities, it does suggest a crisis of sorts around the world. And, when the alternatives are between buying cheap oil based generators which are noisy, filthy (they spew their dirt right around your own home) and between renewable power, many seem willing to invest a little money of their own in renewable energy. Yes, wind turbines and solar panels are expensive compared to buying power from your local utility. But, when you can;t trust your utility and when you can't trust those oil prodicers in Saudi Arabia either, the alternative is to use what is in abundance in your own backyard and to do it in a way that leaves the neighborhood clean for everyone else.

An excellent New York Times article discusses the dilemma that some face 0ver this at: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/business/04wind.html?ex=1378267200&en=6d7d925a710e215b&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

The company that the NYR article talks about, Aero Vironment, has a clean energy website at: http://www.avinc.com/cleanenergy.asp

It is my belief that as wind power becomes more and more popular, economies of scale would bring prices down substantially. I remember when Suzlon Energy started building its wind turbines in India a long time ago. A senior bureaucrat friend of my father's was very skeptical at the time that wind power would ever become viable. Today, despite some hitches, Suzlon is among the most profitable companies in the world. We can expect great things here, mark my words!

Cheers!