This time we are facing a question that always arises in the mind of those who are considering a new system to generate energy for residential use: is it convenient to install a domestic wind farm?
The answer depends on the actual wind speed at a given site and the power of the turbine used.
An eco-sustainable, ecological approach, driven by the continuous search for alternative and clean energy solutions, is increasingly pressing and required in the energy sector. Wind energy that uses wind speed is already used in offshore or onshore installations. This installation can also be used on a small scale and is easily adaptable to the private and home environment.
Thanks to the EU’s tax breaks and tax deductions, more and more households want to invest in an ecological system such as micro-wind turbines, the wind farm designed for domestic use. Let’s try to see if this system is worthwhile and what it is.
The advantages of wind power plants for your home
The first element to consider is the actual wind speed and the presence of wind phenomena in a specific context, taking into account the roof, the roof covering, or the garden where the wind turbine will be installed. You have to assess the potential windiness present in nature in that particular place: to assist you in this task, you can refer to the Italian wind atlas, which can be found online or rely on an experienced consultant in this field.
Only some specific areas can fully benefit from excellent wind speed, for example, the islands. If we look at the installation costs of a domestic wind farm, we realize that Italy is not windy enough to justify this type of investment, with a speed of even less than 5 meters per second; many Italian areas are not profitable!
The so-called wind turbines
Anyway, for those who want to use wind energy, the Italian market has put on sale an array of small wind turbines, whose price depends on the power in watts.
When talking about the micro wind turbine industry, it is worth mentioning the project of the American entrepreneur Dan Bates, TurboMill, a tiny vertical wind turbine, which is only three feet by three feet in size. Usually, it is sold and installed off the grid in combination with a solar panel. How much does it cost? About $500, that’s the US price: it’s small, convenient, fits comfortably on the roof, and connects with a single electrical outlet via a cable.
A revolutionary innovation in many ways because it transforms any electrical outlet into a potential source of diffused energy, all managed directly from the home system.
It is a concept that also takes into account unfavorable wind conditions because it consists of a series of turbines connected to shift the power when needed. Enelgreen Power, on the other hand, produces micro-systems with a power of 400 watts that can be installed on the roofs of houses and buildings and in open green spaces such as fields and gardens.
Also, Interwind, Domus, and Pramac, companies are highly conscious of the use of wind energy and propose wind turbines of small dimensions, both horizontal and vertical.
Tax incentives
As for the incentives developed in Italy and in other EU countries, the idea is to promote these forms of energy and raise awareness of alternative wind energy use.
The user has the opportunity to benefit from 0.30 cents for each kWh produced in 15 years from the installation of the wind power plant. You can also benefit from the on-site exchange mechanism, a kind of annual trade that considers the amount of energy produced independently compared to the power made available to other users in the network.
As far as bureaucracy is concerned, it must be said that in Italy, the installation of wind power has no constraints and does not require any authorization from the municipality. The only essential rule concerns the dimensions, i.e., the installed pole must not exceed 10 meters.
On the other hand, the current awareness drives companies to innovate in this sector of clean energy. More and more start-ups base their business on the use of wind energy. These companies were born in Italy by willing entrepreneurs with a green eye. The initial installing costs will be paid back over the years, and the energy produced can be sold or shared with other families and other households, with a view to a new and enlightened energy collaboration.
In conclusion, we feel that there is a future for home wind farms! As long as there is enough raw material: the wind.