Windmill to generate electricity at home

kiredd1005 · 1st February 2023, 19:17

Hello peeps, I tried searching for the thread on how to build a windmill which I can install at home but I couldn't find any. Please feel free to merge the thread if needed.

My requirements are for basic usage only. I want to power 3 fans, 20 LED bulbs, etc.

This is going to be a DIY approach. Has anybody successfully installed one at home/office? Is it practical/feasible to install one in Bangalore?

I live in Banashankari 2nd stage. My rooftop tends to get very windy on most days. I feel it is sufficient to power up the windmill.

I don't mind even renting one (if there is a place I can rent it from) before I invest money into it.

I did ask Auntie G, but I haven't found a suitable solution.

TIA!

srini1785 · 2nd February 2023, 16:55

What is the approx connected load?. In watts?. I am not sure which fans and LED lights you are going to use.

My understanding is that Wind power is very unreliable source of energy for a house. Solar is more reliable as there would at least be around 8 hrs of sunlight.

Two things you need to check.

1. At what height are you planning to install the turbine?. What is the approx wind speed on your terrace?.

2. How are you going to integrate it to the house supply?. Remember all house appliances are rated at 230V AC and your wind tuning is surely not going to generate a terminal voltage of 230V AC. So you need a converter in between.

You can check something like this:
http://www.archimedesgreenenergys.com/products.htm

DISCLAIMER : I have not used this product and neither do i know of this company. So caveat Emptor.

aargee · 2nd February 2023, 18:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiredd1005

My requirements are for basic usage only. I want to power 3 fans, 20 LED bulbs, etc

This is going to be a DIY approach. Has anybody successfully installed one at home/office? Is it practical/feasible to install one in Bangalore?[/quote]
For this usage, BESCOM will be a very practical & economic solution. Otherwise a really, really, real cost effective windmill has to be invented.

IshaanIan · 2nd February 2023, 18:08

I am not sure a small windmill can power a house. Are there small windmills? The reason I ask is because I have only seen massive windmills and they obviously cannot be propped up on your roof as I am not sure the structure would be stable enough to handle that kind of weight. Also it makes sense that longer blades would produce more energy due to the extra twisting force their length affords. Afaik windmills are a fairly expensive affair since they are gargantuan and thus maintenance is also expensive. Would be interested to see if anything is possible with a small windmill.

kiredd1005 · 2nd February 2023, 18:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by IshaanIan

I am not sure a small windmill can power a house. Are there small windmills? Would be interested to see if anything is possible with a small windmill.

Like I said, the intention is to not power the entire house. Just a few lights and a bunch of regular ceiling fans. Again, objective is I wanted to see how effective it really is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by srini1785

What is the approx connected load?. In watts?. I am not sure which fans and LED lights you are going to use.

http://www.archimedesgreenenergys.com/products.htm

DISCLAIMER : I have not used this product and neither do i know of this company. So caveat Emptor.

Looks like I have to go for 1000 Watts to begin with. Actually, where I live, there is a lot of wind even at night (even around 12am-1am types). We have solar power already. Just wanted to experiment with it. Thank you for the link, I'll check it out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aargee

For this usage, BESCOM will be a very practical & economic solution. Otherwise a really, really, real cost effective windmill has to be invented.

Again, the point is, I wanted to try for the fun of it. Don't intend to replace BESCOM or anything.

aargee · 2nd February 2023, 19:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiredd1005

Again, the point is, I wanted to try for the fun of it. Don't intend to replace BESCOM or anything.

We will be interested to learn from you, kindly let us know the outcome once you've completed please. Thanks

A little help from my end:

And this is something I got to know when attempting to help you with what I can (I was quite surprised) & hence sharing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObyTBJbHaXc

And it looks like there're already DIY kits available in the market; couldn't find a serious one in Amazon though

MegaWhat · 2nd February 2023, 19:38

It all comes down to how much wind you actually get. You could buy a cheap-ish anemometer from amazon and track wind speeds over a month. We also get a lot of seasonal variation, so you can expect lower wind in summer and higher wind during and post-monsoons.
You could scout for publicly available data on annual wind speed distributions - should be possible to get something. Otherwise, typical wind speed in urban environments in India is around 3-4 m/s, which is not much honestly; but should be enough to light up a couple of fans and few LED lights. A 1kW or 2kW setup might be good enough, but an in-depth study might be needed.

You will need a complete setup with a battery and inverter as well to ensure consitent power supply despite variations in wind speed. There are great threads here on solar/wind installations. Some are linked here:

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shift...city-farm.html (Solar Power for Irrigation and Electricity at Farm)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shift...wer-plant.html (Solar power! Turning my roof to a power plant)

If you are looking for a turbine directly, the guys linked below can be a good place to start. Had worked with them a while back and they seem to be a good bunch.

https://avantgarde.energy/

travelling owl · 2nd February 2023, 19:42

I work in clean energy sector, so can give you some recommendations. Reach out to this company: http://www.vinayakaenergytech.com/, they have been building wind mills from 2010, and have built the whole tech indigenously. The owner is a old guy, very passionate about energy and also Make in India.

fordday · 2nd February 2023, 21:06

Few years back Jal Bhawan in bannerghatta road installed a set of colourful vertically positioned wind generators. These are wind direction agnostic and noiseless.

See the youtube link

here

You can try enquiring there.

Our company (an IT MNC) also installed similar generators during the same time. Let me enquire if these are still running.

berserk · 7th February 2023, 23:42

OP's enthusiasm about wind power is laudable. I had the opportunity to do some research in this aspect. Apologies for being long-winded in advance.

The major problem with wind power is it's variability - daily as well as seasonal, which is relevant here. The same issue is present for solar power also but it is possible to forecast generation of day-ahead solar power to a reasonably accurate extent using weather prediction models. Again, accuracy is less for the same during cloudy sky conditions aka monsoons !
Since we need a stable source of power, commercial operators usually utilize storage mechanisms to store the excess power from wind/solar. This mechanism is tapped to utilize the stored energy during periods of low wind/solar energy (low wind conditions or nighttime etc). Batteries are commonly employed for storing energy.
Knowledge of winds over land, at heights where we can use turbines, is difficult to obtain. Incidentally someone mentioned to keep an anemometer and see how the winds are. This is actually the approach used by commercial sector.
Few direct measurements from tall towers etc are available. However, an atlas of wind power potential at 80m, 120m above ground level is available over India. https://niwe.res.in/
Off-topic there is also a solar energy calculator based on data from Indian satellites. https://vedas.sac.gov.in/global-solar/
In general, the states of Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Andaman isles have good wind power potential. Rest of the country mostly features low wind speeds even at 100m. Offshore/islands are better in this regard. It also decreases the closer we go to the ground.
The wind turbine usually operates between 3 - 25m/s. Turbines can have hub height of 3 - 150m or more. Over India, winds are within operational range about 60% of the year. And most of that during June - November only. These numbers are from a recent work . Unfortunately can't share the maps here since copyright issues are best avoided.
The biggest limitation is that even the best wind turbine is limited to 60% efficiency (look up the Betz limit) and much lower in reality. So those wind power potential maps have to be taken with a large pinch of salt !
Usually the life time of these turbines is about 20 years or so. So we also have to calculate whether the returns are worth it.

This is not to discourage anyone from trying out wind power. OP might be located where the topography is advantageous for wind

I'd suggest examining the links in #4, #5 and #7, followed by anemometer measurements. Alternatively, can approach a specialist if the site is promising.

kiredd1005 · 8th February 2023, 12:42

Thank you all so much for sharing your views. It has certainly given me a lot more to think about. I recently bought an anemometer off Amazon just to understand the wind dynamics. I intend to document it over the next month or so.

I am in touch with a few friends who work in green energy space. They have promised to share some info on the feasibility etc. So far it seems like it won't be able to sustain heavy loads of usage, just maybe to power a few bulbs etc.

I will share my experience if I go ahead with the installation!

Mortis · 8th February 2023, 22:13

There are some mini windmill available for home installations. A DIY most likely won't give you the best efficiency

Jaguar · 8th February 2023, 23:58

I've seen yachts using wind turbines to generate power. Here is a good video comparing wind and solar on a boat.

https://youtu.be/Osh1ljtgnSU

Mohitkumaar · 9th February 2023, 00:02

Frankly solar is a much more reliable and very low maintenance option. Do account for the time and effort you will need for windmill maint.

For solar panels just washing once a week will suffice.

1st February 2023, 19:17	#1
kiredd1005 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Bangalore Posts: 128 Thanked: 168 Times	Windmill to generate electricity at home Hello peeps, I tried searching for the thread on how to build a windmill which I can install at home but I couldn't find any. Please feel free to merge the thread if needed. My requirements are for basic usage only. I want to power 3 fans, 20 LED bulbs, etc. This is going to be a DIY approach. Has anybody successfully installed one at home/office? Is it practical/feasible to install one in Bangalore? I live in Banashankari 2nd stage. My rooftop tends to get very windy on most days. I feel it is sufficient to power up the windmill. I don't mind even renting one (if there is a place I can rent it from) before I invest money into it. I did ask Auntie G, but I haven't found a suitable solution. TIA!
	(3) Thanks

2nd February 2023, 16:55	#2
srini1785 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: bang Posts: 889 Thanked: 3,197 Times	Re: Windmill to generate electricity at home What is the approx connected load?. In watts?. I am not sure which fans and LED lights you are going to use. My understanding is that Wind power is very unreliable source of energy for a house. Solar is more reliable as there would at least be around 8 hrs of sunlight. Two things you need to check. 1. At what height are you planning to install the turbine?. What is the approx wind speed on your terrace?. 2. How are you going to integrate it to the house supply?. Remember all house appliances are rated at 230V AC and your wind tuning is surely not going to generate a terminal voltage of 230V AC. So you need a converter in between. You can check something like this: http://www.archimedesgreenenergys.com/products.htm DISCLAIMER : I have not used this product and neither do i know of this company. So caveat Emptor.
	() Thanks

2nd February 2023, 18:08	#4
IshaanIan BANNED Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Hyd Posts: 3,646 Thanked: 7,428 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/2 (12)	Re: Windmill to generate electricity at home I am not sure a small windmill can power a house. Are there small windmills? The reason I ask is because I have only seen massive windmills and they obviously cannot be propped up on your roof as I am not sure the structure would be stable enough to handle that kind of weight. Also it makes sense that longer blades would produce more energy due to the extra twisting force their length affords. Afaik windmills are a fairly expensive affair since they are gargantuan and thus maintenance is also expensive. Would be interested to see if anything is possible with a small windmill.
	(3) Thanks

2nd February 2023, 19:38	#7
MegaWhat BHPian Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Pune/Oxford Posts: 99 Thanked: 631 Times	Re: Windmill to generate electricity at home It all comes down to how much wind you actually get. You could buy a cheap-ish anemometer from amazon and track wind speeds over a month. We also get a lot of seasonal variation, so you can expect lower wind in summer and higher wind during and post-monsoons. You could scout for publicly available data on annual wind speed distributions - should be possible to get something. Otherwise, typical wind speed in urban environments in India is around 3-4 m/s, which is not much honestly; but should be enough to light up a couple of fans and few LED lights. A 1kW or 2kW setup might be good enough, but an in-depth study might be needed. You will need a complete setup with a battery and inverter as well to ensure consitent power supply despite variations in wind speed. There are great threads here on solar/wind installations. Some are linked here: https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shift...city-farm.html (Solar Power for Irrigation and Electricity at Farm) https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shift...wer-plant.html (Solar power! Turning my roof to a power plant) If you are looking for a turbine directly, the guys linked below can be a good place to start. Had worked with them a while back and they seem to be a good bunch. https://avantgarde.energy/
	(6) Thanks

2nd February 2023, 19:42	#8
travelling owl BHPian Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 42 Thanked: 148 Times	Re: Windmill to generate electricity at home I work in clean energy sector, so can give you some recommendations. Reach out to this company: http://www.vinayakaenergytech.com/, they have been building wind mills from 2010, and have built the whole tech indigenously. The owner is a old guy, very passionate about energy and also Make in India.
	(6) Thanks

7th February 2023, 23:42	#10
berserk Newbie Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 15 Thanked: 39 Times	Re: Windmill to generate electricity at home OP's enthusiasm about wind power is laudable. I had the opportunity to do some research in this aspect. Apologies for being long-winded in advance. The major problem with wind power is it's variability - daily as well as seasonal, which is relevant here. The same issue is present for solar power also but it is possible to forecast generation of day-ahead solar power to a reasonably accurate extent using weather prediction models. Again, accuracy is less for the same during cloudy sky conditions aka monsoons ! Since we need a stable source of power, commercial operators usually utilize storage mechanisms to store the excess power from wind/solar. This mechanism is tapped to utilize the stored energy during periods of low wind/solar energy (low wind conditions or nighttime etc). Batteries are commonly employed for storing energy. Knowledge of winds over land, at heights where we can use turbines, is difficult to obtain. Incidentally someone mentioned to keep an anemometer and see how the winds are. This is actually the approach used by commercial sector. Few direct measurements from tall towers etc are available. However, an atlas of wind power potential at 80m, 120m above ground level is available over India. https://niwe.res.in/ Off-topic there is also a solar energy calculator based on data from Indian satellites. https://vedas.sac.gov.in/global-solar/ In general, the states of Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Andaman isles have good wind power potential. Rest of the country mostly features low wind speeds even at 100m. Offshore/islands are better in this regard. It also decreases the closer we go to the ground. The wind turbine usually operates between 3 - 25m/s. Turbines can have hub height of 3 - 150m or more. Over India, winds are within operational range about 60% of the year. And most of that during June - November only. These numbers are from a recent work . Unfortunately can't share the maps here since copyright issues are best avoided. The biggest limitation is that even the best wind turbine is limited to 60% efficiency (look up the Betz limit) and much lower in reality. So those wind power potential maps have to be taken with a large pinch of salt ! Usually the life time of these turbines is about 20 years or so. So we also have to calculate whether the returns are worth it. This is not to discourage anyone from trying out wind power. OP might be located where the topography is advantageous for wind I'd suggest examining the links in #4, #5 and #7, followed by anemometer measurements. Alternatively, can approach a specialist if the site is promising.
	(1) Thanks

8th February 2023, 12:42	#11
kiredd1005 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Bangalore Posts: 128 Thanked: 168 Times	Re: Windmill to generate electricity at home Thank you all so much for sharing your views. It has certainly given me a lot more to think about. I recently bought an anemometer off Amazon just to understand the wind dynamics. I intend to document it over the next month or so. I am in touch with a few friends who work in green energy space. They have promised to share some info on the feasibility etc. So far it seems like it won't be able to sustain heavy loads of usage, just maybe to power a few bulbs etc. I will share my experience if I go ahead with the installation!
	(1) Thanks

8th February 2023, 22:13	#12
Mortis Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,372 Thanked: 1,473 Times	Re: Windmill to generate electricity at home There are some mini windmill available for home installations. A DIY most likely won't give you the best efficiency
	() Thanks

9th February 2023, 00:02	#14
Mohitkumaar BHPian Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Delhi Posts: 212 Thanked: 185 Times	Re: Windmill to generate electricity at home Frankly solar is a much more reliable and very low maintenance option. Do account for the time and effort you will need for windmill maint. For solar panels just washing once a week will suffice.
	(1) Thanks