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Small wind turbines generate direct A Southwest <br /> current(DC)electriaty.In very small Windpower Air <br /> systems,DC appliances operate 303,300-watt <br /> turbine is the sole <br /> d'uectly off the batteries.If you want to source of electriciry <br /> use standard appliances that use con- for this remote <br /> ventional household alternating cur- home in northem <br /> Arizona. <br /> rent(AC),you must install an inverter <br /> to convert DC electricity from the <br /> batteries to AC.Although the inverter , - . - <br /> slighdy lowers the overall efficiency „ � -- �` � � <br /> of the system,it allows the home to ` <br /> be wired for AC,a definite plus with <br /> lenders,electrical code officials,and <br /> future homebuyers. <br /> For safety,batteries should be isa <br /> lated from living areas and electron- � <br /> ics because they mntain corrosive � <br /> and explosive substances.Lead-acid � <br /> batteries also mquire pmtechion from � <br /> temperature extremes. � <br /> Grid-Connected Systems � <br /> In grid-rnnnected systems,the only ranges from$15,000 to$50,000 for <br /> additional equipment required is a a 3-to 10-kW wind turbine. <br /> power conditioning unit(inverter) <br /> that makes the turbine output electri- Although wind energy systems <br /> cally compatible with the utility grid. �volve a significant initial invest- <br /> Usually,batteries are not needed. �►e�►t,they can be competitive with <br /> rnnventional energy sources when <br /> What Do Wind Systems you account for a lifetime of reduced <br /> COSt? or avoided utility rnsts.The length <br /> Installation costs vary gready depend- of the payback period—the time <br /> ing on local zoning,permitting, before the savings resulting from your <br /> and utility interconnection costs. system equal the mst of the system <br /> According to the American Wind l���epends on the system you <br /> Energy Association,small wind �����e wind resource on your <br /> energy systems rnst from$3,000 to site,electricity msts in your area,and <br /> $5,000 for every kilowatt of generating how you use your wind system.For <br /> capacity.This is much cheaper than example,if you live in California and <br /> solaz elechric systems,but the payback have received the 50%buydown of <br /> period can still be lengthy. your small wind system,have net <br /> metering,and an average annual <br /> Wind energy bemmes more cost effec- �d speed of 15 miles per hour <br /> tive as the size of the turbine's rotor (�ph)(6.7 meters per second[m/ <br /> increases.Although small turbines s]),your simple payback would be <br /> cost less in initial ouday,they are approximately 6 years. <br /> proportionally more expensive.The <br /> cost of an installed residential wind <br /> energy system with an 80-foot tower, <br /> batteries,and inverter typically <br />