Small-Scale Wind Energy on the Farm

1. Small-Scale Wind Energy
on the Farm
A Publication of ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service • 1-800-346-9140 • www.attra.ncat.org
By Cathy Svejkovsky Wind-generated electricity is attracting the interest of farmers, ranchers, and other landowners across
NCAT Energy Specialist the country. People find wind energy attractive for a variety of reasons, including its potential economic
© 2007 NCAT benefits and its lower impact on the environment when compared to coal and other electric power
generation fuels. Wind-generated electricity can help farmers and ranchers reduce their energy costs,
an important consideration in these days of continually increasing utility rates.
Contents This publication will introduce you to small-scale wind energy to help you decide if wind energy is an
economical option for your farm or ranch.
Introduction ..................... 1
Why Should I Choose
Wind? .................................. 1 This publication draws heavily on Small
How Do Wind Turbines Wind Electric Systems: A U.S. Consum-
Work? .................................. 1 er’s Guide (DOE/GO-102005-2095), pro-
Is Wind Energy Practical duced by the National Renewable Energy
for Me? ............................... 2 Laboratory (NREL). Material from this
Is There Enough Wind at publication is reprinted and adapted here
My Site? .............................. 3 with permission from NREL.
Zoning Issues ................... 4
What Size Wind Turbine
Do I Need?......................... 4 Introduction
What are the Basic Parts
of a Small Wind Electric Wind energy systems use the wind
System? .............................. 5 to generate electricity with a wind
What Do Wind Systems turbine. More and more people
Cost? .................................... 7
are considering wind energy as
How Much Energy Will
My System Generate? ... 7 they look for affordable and reli-
Grid-Connected able sources of electricity. Small Farms and ranches, such as this one in southwest Minnesota,
can use wind-generated electricity to reduce utility bills.
Systems .............................. 8 wind electric systems can make Photo courtesy of NREL.
Can I Sell My Excess an important contribution to our
Electricity to the nation’s energy needs. In 2005, or more) to provide a significant portion of
Utility? ................................ 9
Financial Incentives ....... 9
the United States installed more new wind their electricity from wind power.
References ...................... 10
energy capacity than any other country in
the world. The new capacity, totaling 2,431 Why Should I Choose Wind?
megawatts (MW), was worth more than
Funding for the development $3 billion in generating equipment, and it Wind energy can be a cost-effective small-
of this publication was provided brought the total national wind energy capac- scale renewable energy system. Depend-
ity to 9,149 MW. That’s enough electricity to ing on your wind resource and the electric
by the USDA Risk Management
Agency.
power 2.3 million average American house- consumption on your farm, a small wind
holds. In 2006, an additional 2,454 MW energy system can lower electricity bills,
was installed, bringing the nation’s total help avoid the high costs of extending util-
ATTRA—National Sustainable
installed capacity to 11,603 MW. ity power lines to remote locations, prevent
Agriculture Information Ser-
vice is managed by the National power interruptions, and provide a non-pol-
Many rural areas have sufficient wind
Center for Appropriate Technol- luting source of electricity.
ogy (NCAT) and is funded under speeds to make wind an attractive alterna-
a grant from the United States
tive, and farms and ranches can often install
a small-scale wind energy system without How Do Wind Turbines Work?
Department of Agriculture’s
Rural Business- Cooperative
Service. Visit the NCAT Web site
(www.ncat.org/agri. impacting their ability to plant crops and Wind is created by the unequal heating of
html) for more informa- graze livestock. Most farms and ranches the Earth’s surface by the sun. Wind tur-
tion on our sustainable
agriculture projects.
have enough open land (generally an acre bines convert the kinetic energy in wind

2. you are also interested in benefits such as
environmental protection, independence,
or energy security, you may fi nd the cost
and payback period to be perfectly accept-
able. Make sure you fully understand the
results you can expect, as well as potential
obstacles, such as zoning laws, generation
capacity, maintenance requirements, and
warranty coverage.
First Things First:
Make Your Farm Buildings as
Energy-Efficient as Possible
Before choosing a wind system for your farm
Wind turbines operate in harmony with farming and ranching. Photo courtesy
or ranch, you should reduce your energy con-
of NREL.
sumption as much as possible. This topic
is discussed in greater detail in the ATTRA
into mechanical power that runs a genera- publication Efficient Agricultural Buildings:
tor to produce clean electricity. Today’s tur- An Overview. Energy conservation is almost
bines are versatile sources of electricity. always more cost-effective than renewable
Their blades are aerodynamically designed energy systems, and could reduce the size of
to capture the maximum energy from the your wind energy system. From wall insula-
Related ATTRA wind. The wind turns the blades, which tion to light bulbs, there are many ways to
Publications spin a shaft connected to a generator that make your farm buildings more efficient.
Renewable Energy makes electricity.
• Reduce your heating and cooling needs by
Opportunities on
up to 30% by investing just a few hundred
the Farm
Is Wind Energy Practical for Me? dollars in proper insulation and weather-
Wind-Powered A small wind energy system can provide ization products.
Electric Systems for you with a practical and economical source
Homes, Farms, and • Save money and increase comfort by prop-
of electricity if: erly maintaining and upgrading your heating,
Ranches: Resources
Efficient Agricultural
• your property has a good wind ventilation, and air-conditioning systems.
Buildings: An resource • Install double-paned, gas-filled windows
Overview • you have at least one acre of land in with low-emissivity (low-e) coatings to
a rural area reduce heat loss in cold climates and spec-
trally selective coatings to reduce heat gain
• your local zoning codes or covenants
in warm climates.
allow wind turbines
• Replace your lights in high-use areas with flu-
• you have high electric costs
orescents. Replacing 25% of your lights can
• your property is in a remote loca- save about 50% of your lighting energy bill.
tion that does not have easy access
• When shopping for products such as light-
to utility lines
ing, windows, and heating and cooling
• you are comfortable with long-term systems, look for the ENERGY STAR® label.
investments ENERGY STAR® products have been identi-
It’s important to examine your reasons for fied by the U.S. Environmental Protection
wanting to purchase a wind energy system. If Agency and U.S. Department of Energy as
your reasons are purely economic, you could being the most energy-efficient products
end up disappointed, since wind energy in their classes.
systems can have long payback periods. If
Page 2 ATTRA Small-Scale Wind Energy on the Farm

3. Is There Enough Wind at
My Site?
Does the wind blow hard and consistently
enough at your site to make a small wind
turbine system economically worthwhile?
That is a key question and not always eas-
ily answered. The wind resource can vary
significantly over an area of just a few miles
because of local terrain influences on the
wind flow. Yet, there are steps you can take
that can help answer this question.
As a fi rst step, a wind resource map can
help you estimate the wind resource in
your region. State wind resource maps,
such as those found on the Wind Pow-
ering America website (www.eere.energy.
gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/
wind_maps.asp) will help you understand Source: U.S. Department of Energy.
the resources in your specific region.
Note that maps for some states show wind
speed estimates at 50 meters above the along seacoasts, on ridgelines, and in the
ground and depict the resource that could Great Plains; however, many areas have
be used for utility-scale wind develop- wind resources strong enough to power
ment. DOE’s future plans include provid- a small wind turbine economically. The
ing wind speed estimates at 30 meters, wind resource estimates on the map above
which are useful for identifying small generally apply to terrain features that are
wind turbine opportunities. well-exposed to the wind, such as plains,
hilltops, and ridge crests.
You can fi nd additional wind resource
maps, showing region-specifi c data, in Another way to estimate the wind resource
NREL’s Wind Energy Resource Atlas is to get average wind speed information
of the United States, available online at from a nearby airport. Use caution, how-
http://rredc.nrel.gov/wind/pubs/atlas. For ever, because local terrain and other factors
western regions, consult windpowermaps. may cause the wind speed recorded at an
org and The Renewable Energy Atlas of airport to be different from your particu-
the West, available at www.energyatlas. lar location. Also, airport wind speeds are
org. For California only, consult Califor- generally measured at heights of only about
nia Wind Resource Maps at www.energy. 20-33 feet (6–10 meters) above ground.
ca.gov/maps/wind.html. Note that wind
Average wind speeds increase with height
maps provide only broad estimates—the
and may be 15–25% greater at a typi-
wind speed for any particular site is often
cal small wind turbine hub-height of 80
a prediction based on terrain, rather
feet (24 meters) than those measured at
than an actual measurement. The actual
airport anemometer heights. The National
wind resource at a specific site may differ
Climatic Data Center collects data from
considerably from these estimates. For
airports in the United States and makes
site-specific wind resource data, consult
wind data summaries available for pur-
a turbine dealer or install an anemometer
chase. Summaries of wind data from
(a device that measures wind speed) on
almost 1,000 U.S. airports also are
your property.
included in Wind Energy Resource Atlas
In general, the highest average wind of the United States, available online at
speeds in the United States are found http://rredc.nrel.gov/wind/pubs/atlas.
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 3

4. are those taken at hub-height. If there is a
small wind turbine system in your area, you
may be able to obtain information on the
annual output of the system or wind speeds
at its location.
Zoning Issues
Before you invest in a wind energy system,
you should research potential obstacles.
Some jurisdictions, for example, restrict the
height of the structures permitted in resi-
dentially zoned areas, although variances
might be allowed. Most zoning ordinances
have a height limit of 35 feet. You can find
out about the zoning restrictions in your
area by calling the local building inspector,
board of supervisors, or planning board. As
a minimum, contact the county commission
to ask what, if any, county requirements
Flagging, the effect of strong winds on area vegetation, can help determine area exist. They can tell you if you will need to
wind speeds. Source: Windustry.
obtain a building permit and provide you
with a list of requirements. In addition to
Another useful, indirect way to measure zoning issues, your neighbors might object
the wind resource is by observing vege- to a wind machine that blocks their view,
tation. Trees, especially conifers or ever- or they might be concerned about noise.
greens, can be permanently deformed by Most zoning and aesthetic concerns can be
strong winds. This deformity, known as addressed by supplying objective data.
“flagging,” has been used to estimate the
For more information about permitting,
average wind speed for an area. For more
see AWEA’s Small Wind Toolbox: Getting a
information on flagging, you may want to
Building Permit at www.awea.org/smallwind/
obtain A Siting Handbook for Small Wind
toolbox2/INSTALL/building_permits.html
Energy Conversion Systems, by H. Weg-
ley, J. Ramsdell, M. Orgill & R. Drake,
Report No. PNL-2521, available from What Size Wind Turbine
National Technical Information Service Do I Need?
at www.ntis.gov or (703) 605-6585. The size of the wind turbine you need
Direct monitoring by a wind resource depends on your application. Most turbines
measurement system at a site provides the are rated according to peak wattage. Small
clearest picture of the available resource. turbines are rated from 100 watts to 100
A good overall guide on this subject is kilowatts (one kilowatt equals 1,000 watts).
the Wind Resource Assessment Handbook, One- to 10-kW turbines can be used in
available online at www.nrel.gov/docs/ applications such as pumping water.
legosti/fy97/22223.pdf. Wind measure- A wind turbine manufacturer can provide
ment systems are available for as little you with the expected annual energy output
as $600 to $1,200. This expense may of the turbine as a function of annual aver-
This 1-kW wind turbine from or may not be justified, depending on the age wind speed. The manufacturer will also
World Power Technology, exact nature of your proposed small wind provide information on the maximum wind
Inc. is used for pumping system. The measuring equipment must speed for safe operation. Most turbines have
water for 120 head of
cattle at a ranch in Texas.
be set high enough to avoid turbulence automatic overspeed-governing systems to
Source: World Power created by trees, buildings, and other keep the rotor from spinning out of control
Technology. obstructions. The most useful readings in very high winds. This information, along
Page 4 ATTRA Small-Scale Wind Energy on the Farm

5. with your local wind speed and your energy its “swept area,” or the quantity of wind
budget, will help you decide what size of intercepted by the turbine. The turbine’s
turbine will best meet your electric needs. frame is the structure onto which the rotor,
generator, and tail are attached. The tail
What are the Basic Parts of a keeps the turbine facing into the wind.
Small Wind Electric System?
Home-scale wind energy systems are gen-
Tower
erally comprised of a rotor, a generator or Because wind speeds increase with height,
alternator mounted on a frame, a tail, a the turbine is mounted on a tower. In gen-
tower, wiring, and the “balance of system” eral, the higher the tower, the more energy
components: controllers, inverters, and/ the wind system can produce. The tower
or batter ies. Through the spinning blades, also raises the turbine above the air tur-
the rotor captures the kinetic energy of the bulence caused by obstructions such as
wind and converts it into rotary motion to hills, buildings, and trees. As a general
drive the generator. rule of thumb, the bot tom of the rotor
blades should be at least 30 feet (9 meters)
To find wind equipment suppliers and
above any obstacle that is within 300 feet
installers in your area, as well as sources
(90 meters) of the tower. Relatively small
of technical support, see ATTRA’s Farm
investments in increased tower height can
Energy Search Tool at http://attra.ncat.org/
yield very high rates of return in energy
energy.php
production. For instance, raising a 10-kW
generator from a 60-foot tower height to
Wind Turbine a 100-foot tower increases system cost
Most turbines manufactured today are hor- by about 10%, but can increase energy
izontal-axis, upwind machines (the rotor production by 29%.
faces the wind) with two or three blades,
which are usually made of a composite Mounting turbines on rooftops is not rec-
material such as fiberglass. These machines ommended. All wind turbines vibrate and
are designed so that turbines rotate around transmit the vibration to the structure on
a horizontal axis, and the rotor is placed on which they are mounted. This can lead
the windward side of the support tower. to noise and structural problems with the
building, and the roofl ine can cause exces-
The amount of power a turbine will produce sive turbulence that will shorten the life of
is determined primarily by the diameter of the turbine.
its rotor. The diameter of the rotor defi nes
Balance of System
The parts that you need in addition to the
turbine and the tower, or the balance of sys-
tem parts, will depend on your application.
Most manufacturers can provide you with a
system package that includes all the parts
you need for your application. For example,
the parts required for a water pumping sys-
tem will be much different than what you
need for a residential application. The bal-
ance of system required will also depend
on whether the system is grid-connected
(connected to the utility grid), stand-alone
(independent of the utility grid), or part of
Bergey XL-1 horizontal-axis upwind machine. a hybrid system (a power system that uses
Source: Bergey Windpower. more than one source of energy—wind and
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 5

6. Types of Towers
There are three basic types of towers suitable for farm-sized turbines:
Monopole
This type of tower is generally the least expensive. The tower is a tilt-up style tower and is
generally installed using a gin-pole and winch. Monopoles generally have four guy wires
for support. Maintenance on the turbine is performed by tilting the tower down. The
height of this type of tower is limited by the weight of the machine and generally 10-kW
machines are the largest that can be placed on such towers. Tilt-up towers require space
for guy wires and for tipping up and down of the tower.
Guyed lattice
Guyed lattice towers are generally more expensive than monopole designs but can sup-
port larger turbines at higher heights. Towers are generally installed using gin-pole and
winch. Guyed lattice towers also come with the advantage of either being able to tip the
tower down or relatively easy climb-ability for regular maintenance (climbing, if done
with appropriate safety precautions, gear and training, Monopole tower.
is much safer than tilting a tower up and down every
time maintenance is required). Guyed lattice towers
require much space for tipping up and down of tower
and guy wires. Again, check with turbine manufactures
to see what tower options they recommend with various
turbine models.
Lattice
Lattice towers, in most cases, are required for machines
larger than 20 kW in size. The installation of these towers
is generally more complicated than that of a guyed lat-
tice tower because a crane is needed to lift the tower and
turbine into place. Maintenance is performed by climbing
the tower. If major work is required on a machine a crane
may be required to remove the turbine from the tower.
Check with manufacturers to determine what tower
Guyed lattice tower . options they recommend with different turbine models.
Lattice tower.
Source: Windustry.org.
photovoltaics, for example). For a residen- ity hundreds of times, which makes them
tial grid-connected application, the balance a good option for remote renewable energy
of system parts may include a controller, systems. Automotive batteries are shallow-
storage batteries, a power conditioning unit cycle batteries and should not be used in
(inverter), and wiring. renewable energy systems because of their
short life in deep-cycling operations.
Stand-Alone Systems Small wind turbines generate direct current
Stand-alone systems (systems not con- (DC) electricity. In very small systems, DC
nected to the utility grid) often require appliances operate directly off the batter-
batteries to store excess power for use ies. If you want to use standard appliances
when the wind is calm. They also need that use conventional household alternating
a charge controller to keep the batter- cur rent (AC), you must install an inverter
ies from overcharging. Deep-cycle batter- to convert DC electricity from the batteries
ies, such as those used for golf carts, can to AC. Although the inverter slightly lowers
discharge and recharge 80% of their capac- the overall efficiency of the system, it allows
Page 6 ATTRA Small-Scale Wind Energy on the Farm

7. be competitive with conventional energy
Can I Install a Wind Energy sources when you account for a lifetime of
System Myself? reduced or avoided utility costs. The length
“Most dealers offer either complete turn- of the payback period—the time before the
key (ready-to-operate) installations or the savings resulting from your system equal
option to purchase direct from the fac- the cost of the system itself—depends on
tory and install the system yourself. The the system you choose, the wind resource
first option offers more customer support on your site, electric costs in your area, and
from the company. Self-installation offers how you use your wind system.
significant savings and a hands-on under-
standing of the turbine. Prospective own-
ers can discuss the options available with How Much Energy Will My
manufacturers to decide which method System Generate?
best suits their budget and technical skills.”
As mentioned above, most U.S. manufac-
–American Wind Energy Association
turers rate their turbines by the amount
of power they can safely produce at a par-
ticular wind speed. Even a small increase
the home to be wired for AC, a definite plus
in wind speed results in a large increase
with lenders, electrical code officials, and
in power. That is why a taller tower will
future homebuyers.
increase the productivity of any wind tur-
For safety, batteries should be isolated from bine by giving it access to higher wind
living areas and electron ics because they speeds, as shown in the graph below.
contain corrosive and explosive substances.
Lead-acid batteries also require protec-
tion from temperature extremes. Batteries
should be enclosed in a box, which should Wind Speeds Increase with Height
be vented to the outside.
150
What Do Wind Systems Cost?
According to the American Wind Energy
Association (AWEA), small wind energy
systems cost from $6,000 to $8,000 for 120
every kilowatt of generating capacity,
depending on size. Smaller wind systems
are more costly per kilowatt of installed
capacity. Wind energy becomes more
Tower Height, ft
90
cost-effective as the size of the turbine
increases. Although small turbines cost
less in initial outlay, they are proportion-
ally more expensive.
60
A 10-kW system, for example, can cost
$47,000 to $60,000 installed. Rebates,
tax credits, and other incentives can reduce
these costs. Well-sited small wind turbines 30
can usually pay for themselves within 15
years, about half their serviceable life-
times, if the right incentives are applied,
says AWEA.
0
0 41 75 100 124
Although wind energy systems involve a
significant initial investment, they can Increase in wind power, %
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 7

8. Air Density Change with Elevation manufacturer or dealer for assistance with
10,000 this calculation.
9,000 To get a preliminary estimate of the perfor-
8,000
mance of a particular wind turbine, use the
formula below.
7,000
6,000 AEO = 0.01328 D2 V3
Elevation, ft
5,000 Where:
4,000 AEO = Annual energy output, kWh/year
D = Rotor diameter, feet
3,000
V = Annual average wind speed, mph
2,000
1,000
Wind Powering America’s Wind Energy
0 Payback Period Workbook is a spreadsheet
70 75 80 85 90 95 100 tool that can help you analyze the econom-
ics of a small wind electric system and
The larger the rotor, the more energy it can decide whether wind energy will work for
you. The spreadsheet can be found online at
capture. The air density changes slightly
www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/
with air temperature and with elevation.
windpoweringamerica/docs/wind_payback.xls.
The ratings for wind turbines are based on
The tool asks you to provide information
standard conditions of 59° F (15° C) at sea
about how you’re going to fi nance the sys-
level. A density correction should be made
tem, the characteristics of your site, and the
for higher elevations as shown in the graph
properties of the system you’re considering.
above. A correction for temperature is typi-
It then provides you with a simple payback
cally not needed for predicting the long- estimate in years.
term performance of a wind turbine.
The best mea sure of wind turbine perfor- Grid-Connected Systems
mance is annual energy output. The dif- Small wind energ y systems can be
ference between power and energy is that connected to the electric distribution sys-
power (kilowatts [kW]) is the rate at which tem and are then called grid-connected
electric energy is consumed, while energy systems. Grid-connected systems require
(kilowatt-hours [kWh]) is the quantity con- a power conditioning unit (inverter), which
sumed. An estimate of the annual energy makes the turbine output electrically
output from your wind turbine, kWh/year, compatible with the utility grid. Usually,
is the best way to determine whether a par- batteries are not needed. A grid-con-
ticular wind turbine and tower will produce nected wind turbine can reduce your con-
enough electric energy to meet your needs. sumption of utility-supplied electricity for
A wind turbine manufacturer or dealer lighting, appliances, and electric heat. If
can help you estimate the energy produc- the turbine cannot deliver the amount of
tion you can expect. They will use a cal- energy you need, the utility makes up the
culation based on the particular wind tur- difference. When the wind system pro-
bine power curve, the average annual wind duces more electricity than the household
speed at your site, the height of the tower requires, the excess is sent or sold to the
that you plan to use, the elevation, and (if utility. Grid-connected systems can be
practical if the following conditions exist:
available) the frequency distribution of the
wind–an estimate of the number of hours • You live in an area with average
that the wind will blow at each speed dur- annual wind speed of at least 10
ing an average year. Contact a wind turbine mph (4.5 m/s).
Page 8 ATTRA Small-Scale Wind Energy on the Farm

9. A grid-connected wind turbine
can reduce your consumption
of utility-supplied electricity.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy.
• Utility-supplied electricity is expen- or PURPA) require utilities to connect
sive in your area (about 10 to 15 with and purchase power from small wind
cents per kilowatt-hour). energy systems. However, you must contact
• The utility’s requirements for con- your utility before connecting to its distribu-
necting your system to its grid are tion lines to address any power quality and
not prohibitively expensive. safety concerns. Be aware that some utili-
ties are more welcoming to interconnection
• There are good incentives for the
sale of excess electricity or for the than others. It is important that, early on
purchase of wind turbines. in your planning process, you contact your
utility to learn about its interconnection
policies and expected costs. The American
Can I Sell My Excess Wind Energy Association is another good
Electricity to the Utility? source for information on utility intercon-
Federal regulations (specifically, the Pub- nection requirements.
lic Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978,
Financial Incentives
Financial incentives can make wind energy
more affordable for farmers and ranchers.
You can fi nd out what incentives exist at
both state and federal levels at the Database
of State Incentives for Renewable Energy
(DSIRE) at www.dsireusa.org.
Wind energy can be an attractive alterna-
tive for farms and ranches across the coun-
try, offering numerous benefits, including
reduced energy costs, reduced environ-
mental impact, and increased energy inde-
pendence. However, as with all renewable
energy systems, there also are challenges
to these systems. Conduct a careful analy-
sis of your energy needs and wind resource
Small wind turbines can provide supplemental power
for farms and ranches, such as this farm in western
potential, as well as system economics, ben-
Kansas. Excess power is fed back into the utility grid. efits, and potential obstacles, to see if wind
Source: Warren Gretz, NREL. is a good choice for your farm or ranch.
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 9

10. References
Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Energy, U.S. Union of Concerned Scientists
Department of Energy, Wind & Hydropower Technolo- www.ucsusa.org
gies Program. www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/
wind_ad.html U.S. Department of Energy
Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program
Consumer’s Guide to Renewable Energy in Arkansas, www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/
Arkansas Energy Office, October 2005.
www.arkansasrenewableenergy.org/consumers_guide.pdf Windustry
www.windustry.org
The Consumer’s Guide to Small Wind and Solar Photo-
voltaic Generation, NorthWestern Energy, 2007.
Publications/Links
The Economics of Small Wind, American Wind Energy
Burton, Tony, David Sharpe, Nick Jenkins, and Ervin
Association. www.awea.org/smallwind/toolbox/TOOLS/
Bossanyi. Wind Energy Handbook, November 2001
fs_economics.asp
Small Wind Electric Systems: A U.S. Consumer’s Guide, Farming the Wind: Wind Power and Agriculture, Union
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, (NREL). of Concerned Scientists. www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/
March 2005. www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/ renewable_energy_basics/farming-the-wind-wind-power-
windpoweringamerica/pdfs/small_wind/small_wind_ and-agriculture.html
guide.pdf Gipe, Paul. Wind Energy Basics: A Guide to Small
Wind Energy: Harnessing the Wind to Generate Elec- and Micro Wind Systems, April 1999.
tricity, Environmental and Energy Study Institute, May Gipe, Paul. Wind Power, Revised Edition: Renewable
2006. www.eesi.org/publications/Fact%20Sheets/EC_
Energy for Home, Farm, and Business. April 2004.
Fact_Sheets/Wind_Energy.pdf
Paul, Greg, New and Improved Wind Power, Mother
Montana Wind Power: A Consumer’s Guide to Harness-
ing the Wind, NorthWestern Energy, December 2004. Earth News, June/July 2007. www.motherearthnews.
www.montanagreenpower.com/pdf/montanawindpower com/Alternative-Energy/2007-06-01/Improved-Wind-
pub.pdf Power.aspx
Wind Powering America program brochure, www.eere. A Primer on Small Turbines, Bergey Windpower Co.
energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/pdfs/ www.bergey.com/School/Primer.html
wpa/35873_21century.pdf Sullivan, Dan. Farming the Wind: The nuts and bolts
of blade design, site selection and tower technology,
Resources The New Farm, www.newfarm.org/features/0504/
American Wind Energy Association wind2.shtml
www.awea.org
Wind Energy FAQs for Consumers, U.S. Department of
Farm Energy Search Tool Energy Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program.
http://attra.ncat.org/energy.php www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/wind_consumer_
National Renewable Energy Laboratory faqs.html
www.nrel.gov/wind Wind Energy Payback Period Workbook, Wind
National Wind Coordinating Collaborative Powering America. www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/
www.nationalwind.org windpoweringamerica/docs/wind_payback.xls
Page 10 ATTRA Small-Scale Wind Energy on the Farm

11. Notes
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 11

12. Small-Scale Wind Energy on the Farm
By Cathy Svejkovsky
NCAT Energy Specialist
© 2007 NCAT
This publication is available on the Web at:
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