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One of the oldest known methods of power generation is the use of wind turbines . Even now, the basic idea behind this type of device remains the same , but design aspects of the blades used have undergone major improvements over time . Today, it’s possible to produce much more power from much less wind than ever before, and this is largely thanks to these improvements .

Mats made out of reeds were used as the blades for the first-generation wind turbines . While they did the job under the right conditions, they lacked durability . If the winds were too strong , these blades would often be broken .

Reed blades were eventually replaced by lighter and more reliable cloth sails . Along with an improved vertical axis style design, many early windmills utilized this type of blade in order to harness wind energy for grain processing purposes .

The next phase in the evolution of wind turbines came with the introduction of wooden blades and horizontal axis blade configurations . These blades were directly inspired by airplane blades . Wooden blades were sturdier yet lighter than earlier incarnations , and therefore they could rotate faster and provide greater power to the connected machinery .

These advancements made it possible to generate electricity with wind turbines . Larger wind turbines were soon built to take advantage of these advancements , providing energy in commercial settings .

From this period on, wind turbine blade development diverged into two distinct paths: horizontal axis blades, and vertical axis blades . In terms of horizontal axis blade design, the majority of the changes would manifest themselves as differences in blade shape and pitch, materials, and the number of blades used per rotor .

In most cases, 3-blade designs came to be used for horizontal axis wind turbines, as they have the best balance of stability and rotor speed . Modern turbines feature composite blades, which are both lightweight and strong . Composite blades allow wind turbines to spin faster and produce more power as well as pick up low-speed winds, making them immeasurably more efficient .

Some of the most spectacular and effective designs on the market currently can be found on vertical axis wind turbines . The rotation for these units is generally provided by features that take advantage of wind drag or wind lift .

Vertical axis turbines are able to harness the power of the wind no matter what way it happens to be blowing . In this regard , they offer a more consistent output of power than the majority of horizontal axis turbines . Residential users will find vertical axis turbines especially attractive , as they usually don’t require a tower or an open landscape in order to work their best .

If you would like to know the pros and cons of solar energy, take a look at Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Power.

For the best guide I have found for building your own wind turbines with step by step videos, go to  Best DIY Solar and Wind Guides.

For another guide to building a diy wind turbine, visit  Homemade Wind Turbine.

wind turbines

In the 100 years or so since wind turbines were first used to generate electricity, these structures have seen many advancements , resulting in more effective and versatile units . Despite being better in every measurable way, they’re also now more affordable than ever . Wind turbines come in a few basic classes , each of which is designed to meet a specific purpose and will likely be more or less appropriate in relation to the potential buyer’s needs .

One type of wind turbine that has seen serious improvements in recent years is the large-scale commercial-use turbine . Some of the ways in which they’ve gotten better include: blade design, which makes a massive difference with regard to how a wind turbine operates ; dependability , which is important for a machine you expect to operate constantly ; and efficiency, generating more output even with relatively little wind . This variety of wind generator is different from residential-use turbines in that it’s constructed from stronger and heavier materials, as it’s almost always meant to handle higher winds .

Additionally , it’s usually best to have commercial wind turbines in areas like shorelines that receive consistent, strong winds . Being “out of the way” like this makes it expensive to have to service them any more than occasionally , so it’s necessary that these models are built to last . All of these factors mean that large-model wind turbines , as one might expect , are the most expensive type, in many cases exceeding $100,000 in price .

The other major class of wind turbine is those designed for residential use . Residential areas, due to the presence of buildings and other obstacles, often have frequent shifts in wind patterns, and this was a tricky problem for early residential-use turbines to overcome .

Early units were also prohibitively heavy . In other words , they were still too much like the larger versions . Most homeowners considered these early models too costly and inefficient to be appropriate for them .

The latest type of residential-use turbine to emerge is called the micro turbine . These units usually don’t require the use of a tower , as they are capable of generating good amounts of power from even low winds . There are some micro turbines available now that can be set up on the roof of a house . These smaller models are rotating constantly , and this makes up for the fact that they don’t generate as much gross power as some of the larger turbines . Starting at approximately $600 , micro turbines can be paid for relatively quickly because of the savings they provide in terms of electrical bills

The cost of a wind turbine usually depends upon factors such as size and capacity . Some homeowners are even putting together their own wind turbines, which brings the cost down even more . Though it may sound like a big job , anybody can learn to build a wind turbine with the right instructions, and this will give them the chance to save a lot of money and get free electricity for life .

To learn about the advantages and disadvantages of wind power, visit Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Power.

For the greatest guide to making your own wind turbine, including step by step videos, go to  Earth4Enegry Review.

Here’s another guide to building your own solar panel  How to Build a Wind Turbine.

wind turbines