[Redcap]

I can’t speak to big commercial windmills for a personal property, but every farm used to have at least one water windmill pump and often close to the house. So as far as noise, they were rickety and made noise but you live with what you have to.

Years ago, we made a windmill washing machine from a Mother Earth News design and it was not quiet, but not super loud.

I guess it depends on what kind of system you’re talking about, but I’ve lived with these smaller windmills and I’ve lived in the Arizona desert with wind scoops and wind exhaust vents/turbines and they were fine.

Again, I don’t know what kind of system you’re talking about but I would think a few smaller and less noisy windmills could easily generate quite a bit of power and you could keep those well oiled and in good repair.

[MartHale7]

Much depends on how close your neighbors are, if they are in earshot of the device they may raise the issue. Other problems can be insurance as windmills can throw blades which can cause destruction for neighbors, or being up on a tower the tower can fall.

On the off grid groups I have been apart of a combo of solar with wind was what many supported as when there was no sun wind can fill in the gaps for power.

Windmills can be made to be quiet with proper bearings or design.

I bought a wind gen and I gave it away because in my area there are too many trees that block the wind thus it was not a good option for me. I had considered using balloons with wind generation, but for me solar was the best option being in Florida where there is an abundance of sun.

[Hippocrates_Garden]

I think a lot of the “noise” boils down to what the person is accustomed to or takes to be “normal”, it’s amazing how one would turn all Karen at a single rooster when 20 dogs are barking at all hours around the neighborhood.

Their preconceptions color their perceptions.

Where wind is appropriate, and viable (cost, maintenance), etc and the turbine is of appropriate scale, and constructed of materials which on the whole are at least as, if not more recyclable than any other form of energy generation, There should be no logical argument, but alas.. one thing more rare than gold or precious gems, is logical thinking.

[Patsplace]

All the noise (pun intended) I have heard has been solely about the hige commercial jobs. I don’t think a small private mill would create a problem.

I have seen models that use a vertical cylinder instead of vanes. That might solve any issues.

[Hippocrates_Garden]

I’ve not seen any research or reviews that indicate vertical turbines are anything more than a marketing gimmick. I’ve not even seen any reputable wind/solar companies selling them (though of course, I’m not aware of every single company). For instance Missouri Wind and Solar… horizontal’s only.

[ExmesSong]

A lot of things are not advertised if big oil or the like block it. That’s like saying margarine is better for you body that coconut oil.

Not much money has been put into verticle. The information is there, as is the companies that make it.

[BiggKidd]

I’ve been considering adding wind power here to my solar setup. We are completely off grid and have been for 16 years. Wind power would help a fair amount when the sun isn’t shining here. We don’t get / have wind all the time but we do have wind more often than not especially in fall, winter and spring. The way I look at all things power related is more is better than less. More methods, more storage etc…

[ExmesSong]

You all have adjusted my perspective immensely. It’s so hard to get a good & objective opinion on the regular web. Thank y’all so much. I am gonna go primarily with wind & add solar as a secondary. Especially now that I know that there is vertice windmills. I’m more than sure that it will do better where I am. Of course, I do have to do more research, but I feel so much more positive about it than before.

[Hippocrates_Garden]

I’m curious, have you found any reputable research or long-term, non-sales pitch reviews indicating verticals are anything more than hype? I haven’t.

Regarding horizontals (the industry standard, for a reason), other than in very specific situations, and where the turbine can be mounted quite high, like 100 feet or more above the trees, houses or other structures in the immediate area, while they do generate power, rarely do they generate enough to warrant the cost, especially if the same money, for purchase, install, annually bringing it down to inspect and/or repair and re-erect, was instead put into solar, or batteries, pencil out. Again, I love the concept, but over 15 years of at least casually watching the space, I’ve seen very little evidence that it is worth it.. again other than in very specific locations.

We all believe our situation is different, and it is, but that doesn’t mean it’s the proper setting for the cool thing. (most of us also believe we are above-average drivers, which isn’t possible)

• This reply was modified 10 months ago by  Hippocrates_Garden.

[ExmesSong]

That’s a lot of bashing on the verticle windmill. Sounds like you make or sell horizontal windmills. There’s a lot if things thatvare “industry standard”, but that only means that big business is making money on it EASILY. Industry standard used to not include grounding wires with outlets. Then someone had a different idea.

[Hippocrates_Garden]

Nope, I don’t sell anything. I’ve talked with a couple, and heard presentations from several who have tried them and say they just didn’t live up to the promise, and admitted they really just wanted to be the case where it worked, but didn’t. As for vertical turbines, one problem area is that the bearing is at the bottom, and when the wind is there, it pushes in a way that puts stress on it wearing it out faster. I’m for what works. Not just what is neat, or cool, or I feel should work.

[Hippocrates_Garden]

the latest information I have gathered is from taking this course via Verge Permaculture. Dan is a Phd, who has been studying, writing about, designing, and living life for like 40 years, in multiple environments, In this short clip, he makes it sound magically perfect, but I assure you, in the full class he was quite careful to encourage one to evaluate the site before considering wind (and he is a certified wind something or another, I forget the exact certification, but does official evaluation of a site to see if wind is appropriate, and cost-effective). He has very specific reasons why, as yet, vertical turbines aren’t “ready for prime time”. I’m not making this stuff up, or pulling out of an orifice, just passing on what I’ve learned either personally, or from actual experts.

How to Design a Passive Solar Energy System for Your Home – Dan Chiras Ph.D. Shares Secrets (youtube.com)

[packrat]

I could see where a vertical axis “drum” wind turbine might serve as a fill in to a mature solar system. In times where it is overcast and bitter cold in our area is when we have some of the steadiest wind. I would hate to have to rely on one as a main source of power. It’s like the notion of farm hydro: the creek I would eye for that would tend to destroy paddles driving a generator during our spring floods, and would handily lock a pelton turbine with rocks and grit at that same time. There are so many sites in this part of the country that are ‘Suchandsuch Mill Road’ where the furious flooding we get every 5-10 years long since washed away every vestige of the antebellum mill that place name refers to.

[Hippocrates_Garden]

The main problem with the vertical is the sideways loads on the single bearing on the bottom. The taller the vertical blades, the longer the lever, the more the side load.

The higher the wind speed, the stronger the force, on the lever, then on the bearing while trying to spin. They just wear out faster.

Horizontal turbines, spin, but don’t have much if any side load on the bearing(s). There were a couple of other physics-based problems which have yet to be “solved” thus far, and that I’m not smart or educated enough to remember or understand. I’m all for progress and innovation, heck, love it, but that doesn’t mean everything new or neat, actually works.

That said, at some point, I may get a (horizontal) turbine anyway, but I will do so, fully knowing, it’s an experiment, which if it provides noticeable, or significant output, that is a bonus, but it will go up with little if any expectation, and not factoring it in as a part of a critical supply system.