Air Breeze: A Teeny Tiny Turbine for Off-Grid Power
by Jaymi Heimbuch, Central Coast, California on 09.30.08
Images Via Air Breeze
Southwest Windpower has rolled out a new, small wind turbine to help out generating renewable energy on a small, more personal scale. The Air Breeze, successor to Air-X, is for off-grid locations such as ships, rural cabins and even RVs.
It sounds like a great invention, but with most small-scale wind turbines, we have to wonder where's the catch.
Two of the issues with small scale wind power are noise and efficiency at lower air speeds. Several companies have been working on this issue, from The Energy Ball to noise-negating devices for turbines.
The Air Breeze is touted as quieter than comparable turbines, and can provide power at speeds as low as 6 mph. When the wind kicks up, the Air Breeze can generate 200 watts at 28 mph wind speeds. Not too bad for energy generation.
Stick it up on a pole while on land, or mount on a boat while at sea. Easy, right?
Here’s where the problem comes in: at $599-$699 for a model, it isn’t going to send generator-toting folks running to renewable energy in a heartbeat. However, with high gas prices on the one hand and the eventually free resource of wind available on the other, it is definitely an appealing option for vacationers.
The Air Breeze has another appealing element - it can link up with solar PV arrays to supplement renewable energy.
So it could be a very nice back-up for someone who already uses alternative power sources.
Via Alternative Consumer, Air Breeze
More on Personal Wind Power:
A Personal Wind Turbine For $500: The Air-X
Small-Scale Wind Turbine Potential Great, Limited By Installation & Electricity Costs: New Report Finds
Wind Turbine from Scrap for under £20: Student Hopes to Power the World's Poor
The Energy Ball: Another Innovative Option in Home Wind Turbines
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The air-breeze isn't so much a successor to the air-x as a model tuned for people that don't live in a wind tunnel. The air-x goes up to 400 watts, but the air -breeze generates more power at lower wind speeds. Selecting all comes down to your local environment.
I think the best feature of the air-x and air-breeze is their integrated charge system. You can just hook them up to batteries and let them be without needing a charge controller. If you try to use them combined with a larger solar system you may run into some odd charging as they confuse your solar charge controller. (For instance, when your solar controller stops charging to check the battery level it won't be seeing the real level, but one boosted by the wind charger.)
The windball is intriguing because of its alleged low noise, but I wonder if they are really shipping. I don't find anyone that thinks they know a price.
The Air Breeze is ultra quiet - almost silent, I would say. Check out my Air Breeze video on YouTube - you can hear the birds, but not the turbine (there is some noise coming from the camera's audio quantizing, though, but as you can see it is not related to how fast the blades are turning).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k74IxZ-fC2A
The Air Breeze, combined with two 130-watt Kyocera PV panels, powers my off-grid system which provides lighting for the whole house. Other circuits are utility-connected.
If you are referring to the Energy Ball, here is our research -
http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Home_Energy_Energy_Ball
nice device, If iit can generate power at speeds of 6 mph, theres got to be a few unspoken requirements for servicing. It most probably has very low resistance bearings, and that probably entails more expensive repairs,
In the case of high breeze, will it handle itself?? I mean at high speeds this device will rotate at a ridiculously high speed, unless it has a speed limiter, or an emergency shut down brake.
what are the zoning laws regarding installation of off-grid power systems by the way??
I work for WindEnergy7.com and we don't go that small, this is a turbine to generate electricity for a radio equipment on a sailboat or something. It takes more than that to run a refrigerator, air conditioner, or any serious appliance. It's OK for a hobby or just to tinker with. Our little 800watt rooftop windmills are a scaled down version of proven commercial wind turbines, but small enough to roof top mount and ties directly to solar panel(s). That’s our hottest seller right now. Wind is strongest in winter season, solar strongest in summer season. So, putting both together in a generator system they compliment each other very well. They are DIY kits but very proven devices and easy to build and install.Residential Wind Power
Small Wind Turbine Federal Tax Credit is Law
Today Congress passed legislation, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, H.R. 1424, that includes a new federal-level investment tax credit to help consumers purchase small wind turbines for home, farm, or business use. President Bush is expected to sign the bill into law. Owners of small wind systems with 100 kilowatts (kW) of capacity and less can receive a credit for 30% of the total installed cost of the system, not to exceed $4,000. The credit will be available for equipment installed from the date the president signs the bill through December 31, 2016. For turbines used for homes, the credit is additionally limited to the lesser of $4,000 or $1,000 per kW of capacity. See Wind/Solar Hybrid Kits