Can the mounting of small wind turbines directly on roof structures be effective?

 

Can the mounting of small wind turbines directly on roof structures be
effective?
August 15, 2006


Q: Where does the wind industry stand on installing wind turbine units
on the roofs of high-rise buildings, condos and residential units? And
have there been any projects completed to date that would show it's a
profitable venture? Terry F, Ontario - Canada
 A: At the moment, small wind systems near buildings seem to have a
larger market penetration. One of the new entrants to the small wind
market is Edinburgh-based Renewable Devices Ltd, maker of the Swift
rooftop wind energy system. The 'slow' turning five-blade rotor, has an
unusual patented ring diffuser, which the company claims minimizes
noise. Swift, of Scotland, has installed some model turbines on UK
rooftops such as rooftop turbines installed at each of five Fife
Primary schools in their 2005 pilot, as well as in Malawi and Japan.

Mike Bergey, President of Bergey Windpower Co. of Norman, OK states,
"The plain facts are that roofs weren't designed for wind turbines and
the wind over roofs is hard on a wind turbine. It's the hardest and
worst place to put a wind turbine".

Southwest Windpower (Flagstaff, AZ) Vice President Andy Kruse was more
sanguine, "There are conditions where a roof top mounted wind generator
can work. However, like solar, an improperly mounted wind generator can
be worthless or worse, cause damage to the roof. A wind generator must
always be mounted on the upwind side of the structure and if at all
possible more than 10' above the roof. Structural engineering must be
completed on any building where a wind generator above 1kw is
installed."

Since we have cellular towers and HVAC units on roofs, undoubtedly wind
systems will migrate there too - but challenges relating to roof
structure, noise, and building codes - all pose impediments for fast
market penetration.

- Scott Sklar

http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/qa/story?idE725

 



lkgeo1 wrote:

 

aerovironment has done just this...

http://www.avinc.com/energy_lab_project_detail.php?id €

 

Don't *top post *

THIS IS TOP POSTING !!! IT@S WHAT EFFWITS DO TO TRY AND IMPRESS PPL

beard6801@bellsouth.net wrote:

 

Here is an article on why NOT to roof mount
http://www.wind-works.org/articles/RoofTopMounting.html

And stop screaming about top posting, we don't care.

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