DIY Wind Turbine My homemade wind turbine days are in their infancy, but it`s exciting and very different from going the solar route. Often, to build a wind turbine ends up being a cheaper alternatve to solar. But, it`s very dependent on where you live. Obviously more windy areas are better suited to this type of alternative energy. I have a friend in England who has built himself 5 windmills, each one 100W for a total of 500W power generation, all in his back yard! DIY wind turbine technology is especially popular in the UK, Australia, and here in the States (mostly Illinois, California, Texas) Personally i own a 300W unit, i built this little beauty with plans i bought ($47) from Earth4Energy. If you don`t want to shell out $3000 on a windmill then head on over to their site, budget `mills are the name of the game!

Visit Earth4Energy HERE


Build A Wind Turbine VS Solar Panels

When it came time for me to expand my alternative energy empire, i gravitated towards a homemade wind turbine. I thought, hey, i live in a windy area right? To build a wind turbine may be cheaper, but it is more technical. Assembling the blades, generator, wiring etc. into a directionally pivoting pole can be tricky. This is one energy DIY project you need expert help on. The easiest guide to this would be Earth4Energy (which i used), followed by GreenDIYenergy`s instructions, which are more technically orientated. Let`s look at the pro`s and con`s between wind and solar energy...

1. A DIY wind turbine is cheaper
2. DIY solar power is easier to assemble
3. A wind turbine only needs occasional oiling
4. Solar panels need adjusting 4 times a year
5. Around 4 wind turbines are needed to power an average house
6. Around 7 solar panels are needed to do the equivalent

Wind power is the largest growing alternative energy in the world, with solar not far behind. If you live in a moderately windy area, then i suggest you build a wind turbine. Remember, wind turbines can run at night!


How Much Does It Cost?

DIY Wind TurbineTo build a wind turbine is cheaper than any other alternative method of energy. My 300W turbine (on the left) only cost $300, the equivalent in a solar panel system would have cost me around $400. So, as you can see, it`s more cost effective.

How Does It Work?

The workings of a DIY wind turbine are pretty simple. Power is generated by the blades turning a generator, the whole contraption being held into the wind by a tail vane. The power is then fed into your home electric system in the exact same way as the solar energy system. See my solar page here.

How Do You Start?

Building your own DIY wind turbine will take a fair amount of planning. Firstly, you need to find a nice open place to position it, preferably the roof. The pole needs to be very sturdy and can`t bend too much under heavy winds, this will decrease the wind turbine`s generation capacity. Following instructions from a guide like Earth4Energy, you can finish your system off in around 3 days if you`re not at your day job! My homemade wind turbine sits atop my roof supported by extra struts, being so high up helps it catch each and every breeze. I don`t think i`ve ever seen it motionless so far! Many people are concerned with the noise that these devices produce, they shouldn`t be. Unless you have a wind farm in your backyard, you won`t hear it.

However you go about assembling your first homemade wind turbine, i hope it`s a success. The only resource i can think of to get you going is Earth4Energy. Without their quality instructions my DIY wind turbine quest would have been a disaster!. Keep me updated though, i`d like to hear about your progress