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When we talk about solar it doesn't really matter if you want to generate 100w, 100kw or 1mw. You're pretty much using the same tech, and the pre-requisite is s
by bruce511 2y ago
When we talk about solar it doesn't really matter if you want to generate 100w, 100kw or 1mw. You're pretty much using the same tech, and the pre-requisite is simple "sunshine".
But wind is more complex. If you want to generate a lot, then you need space (to build a tower), height (higher is better) and size (bigger is MUCH better.) And wind.
But if you just need a little, say 3kw, then you're not looking for the best possible outcome, you're looking for local outcome.
Most of us are location bound. I want to generate energy here - because I use it here. There are constraints (noise, size, height etc.) that I live with.
Sure, I've got solar, my roof is full of that. Let's stipulate that economically I'm better off adding more solar. Let's also stipulate that my roof is "full".
I get quite a few windy days (and windy nights) a year. If I harvest 1kw/h, I'd be happy. If I generate excess I can sell it to the grid.
The obvious answer is still a 3 or 5 bladed conventional wind turbine. But that is both visual, and can be noisy.
Personally, I don't need it to compete economicly with solar. I don't need it to be "perfect wind efficient". All I need is around 3kw capacity (for 1kw output) in a residential friendly package.
Solar has shown that individuals are prepared to spend capital on residential generation. And in sufficient volume to move the grid needle. I'd love to see similar opportunities for those with more wind and less sun.
- kibwen 2y agoNote that wind is a good complement to solar, because it's largely driven by the heat from the ground rising upward, so it tends to start picking up in the afternoon/evening as solar starts to dip.
- IshKebab 2y ago> 1 kw/h Try again...
- paulryanrogers 2y agoCan you elaborate? Some of us flunked out of EE.
- IshKebab 2y agoIt's kWh. Kilowatts multiplied by hours, not kilowatts per hour. The analogy with units you are familiar with: watts=speed (e.g. knots), energy=distance (e.g. (nautical) miles). So a kWh of energy is kind of like saying a knot-hour. Or 1 knot for 1 hour, which equals 1 nautical mile. You can say "I have travelled a distance of 1 knot-hour or 1 knot for an hour". It doesn't make any sense to say "I have travelled a distance of 1 knot/hour or 1 knot per hour". Knot/hour would be a unit of acceleration not distance. Ok that's probably clear as mud. I also feel like I should make a power units quiz website because so many people get this wrong.
- margalabargala 2y agoOP was not trying to say kWh. They were trying to say kWh per hour.
- ErikBjare 2y ago1 kWh per hour is 1 kW
- margalabargala 2y agoMathematically yes, but linguistically no. One kWh per hour is the average production of the system. Calling a power generation system "1 kW" implies it maxes out at 1kW. For something like wind or solar which is usually at partial load, a 1kW system will usually not produce 1kWh per hour. Thus it is appropriate to say "1 kWh per hour" because you will need a ~3kW system to achieve that.
- IshKebab 2y ago"1kW average"
- margalabargala 2y agoYes that would also work. IMO "kWh per hour" is clearer, because when dealing with power generation those are the units you deal with when you are connected to the grid. When people talk about their solar generation, they say "I generated X kWh today", not "today my system averaged Y kW over Z hours" and leave the math to the listener. kWh per unit time is common when talking about home energy generation.
- readyman 2y agoWhat is kw/h?
- _Microft 2y agoWhat is kw/h with a lowercase w? I’m familiar with W which stands for Watt, a unit of power. Could it simply be a typo like in GP’s comment who misspelled kWh?
- ericpauley 2y agoI want a setup that generates 1 Kω/H.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- Two4 2y ago1 kiloscrotums per hour is way more than any man would need.
- perilunar 2y agoThe rate of change of your power consumption?
- justinclift 2y agokilo-wut?'s per hour ;)