Wind Power Generator

Wind power is one of the most popular and commercially available types of alternative energy. In countries like Denmark and the UK, it already contributes a significant amount of power to the energy mix. One recent trend is to build wind farms offshore and there are several major developments of this kind of wind power being carried out at the moment.

Small wind power generation is also growing. Small wind turbines may be not enough to get a household off the grid but it can make a contribution. As usual, you can either buy a wind power generator or make your own, which is a lot cheaper. The internet has several videos showing how it can be done. In one of them, the presenter uses a motor from an old exercise treadmill and some PCV pipe to make the blades. The presentation makes it really simple to convert wind power into electricity, as long as you have a basic flair for tools and DIY work.

In another tutorial, the wind power generator is made out of a salvaged wheel hub that cost around $10. It was then sand-blasted and painted. The turbine blades were made of wood and a 5-phase bridge rectifier was built fitting five 35 Amp bridge rectifiers to an aluminium heat sink.

Large or small, wind power continues to grow in the U.S. According to a statement by the American Wind Energy Association released in August 2011, in the second quarter 2,151 megawatts (MW) of electrical generating capacity were installed in the first half of 2011, compared with 1,250 MW during the same time in 2010. That represents a growth of 72 per cent.