I read an article in the Wisconsin State Journal not long ago about how MGE is trying to install an Urban Turbine into McKee Farms to allow people to see what these things do. The idea of a smaller formed windmill that might not take as much space as the more traditional ones got me thinking as to their potential usage in this country.
The main idea given in these is that you would install these on your property somewhere and they can power your home. The one to be installed into McKee Farms can supposedly power up to three homes which isn’t too bad at all. However, they are huge as you can see in the picture to the right. They may be much smaller and more attractive than their more traditional counterparts, but they will still have a hard time getting neighbor’s approvals.
Does this mean the idea will never take off? No. Well at least not entirely. You see, I don’t think these things will work in homes. I do think they could be used in other ways however. I am pretty sure this is the type of thing many larger buildings are already installing (especially newer skyscrapers). So I won’t go there (though I’m sure Degrassi will). What my main idea is to put them on power lines.
Yes power lines. You know those big ugly things that transport power that everyone hates and many are scared of that at their base are very inefficient uses of space. I mainly focus on the giant power lines that generally go long distance cross-country, not the ones you see in the city. The reason for this is clear. These are already large structures, already in the country, they are already tall, and best of all, they are already connected to the grid. There would likely need to be restructured, but imagine if every single one of these things had on top of it a wind turbine capable of powering a two to three houses. No need for additional land for wind farms, use the land that power companies are already using in a very positive way.
While I do think there is likely underlying work (after all each tower would need to be able to accomadate this both in the terms of extra weight as well as having some sort of converter or something), I think the idea is completely workable. I have other thoughts as well. One being to take advantage of the description I’ve read on them that they look like a big flag pole. And that is to use these as flag poles that various businesses have (or billboards and store signs) to help power the businesses in question. Right now I think it is a shame that the majority of energy saving talk is geared towards the individual when businesses needlessly consume so much energy and this might be an easy way to help conserve there.
This type of turbine I think is a boon, especially in the midwest which is already so ripe in wind…