Wind Power

Wind power is the fastest growing of the renewable energy technologies, though it
currently provides less than 0.5 percent of global energy. Over the past decade the
global installed maximum capacity increased from 2,500 MW in 1992 to just over 40,000
MW at the end of 2003, at an annual growth rate of near 30 percent. Globally, wind
power generation increased more than fivefold between 2000 and 2007.
Wind power is renewable and produces no greenhouse gases during operation, such as
carbon dioxide and methane.

20% of US energy could be from wind by 2030. Two decades from now
Americans could get as much electricity from wind turbines as from nuclear power
plants, says a government report that lays out the possible plan for wind-energy report.
The report made public May 13, 2008 was a collaboration between Energy Department
research labs and the industry. “The report indicates that we can do this nationally for
less than half a cent per kilowatt hour if we have the vision,” said Andrew Karsner, the
Energy Department’s assistant secretary for efficiency and renewable energy. “The
United States possesses abundant wind resources,” says the report, spearheaded by
the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado.



Small wind generation systems with capacities of 100 kW or less are usually used to
power homes, farms, and small businesses. Isolated communities that otherwise rely on
diesel generators may use wind turbines to displace diesel fuel consumption. Individuals
purchase these systems to reduce or eliminate their electricity bills, or simply to
generate their own clean power.
Wind turbines have been used for household electricity generation in conjunction with choosing to purchase grid-connected turbines in the 1 to 10 kilowatt range to power
their whole homes. Household generator units of more than 1 kW are now functioning in
several countries, and in every state in the U.S.

Grid-connected wind turbines may use grid energy storage, displacing purchased
energy with local production when available. Off-grid system users either adapt to
intermittent power or use batteries, photovoltaic or diesel systems to supplement the
wind turbine.

In urban locations, where it is difficult to obtain predictable or large amounts of wind
energy, smaller systems may still be used to run low power equipment. Equipment such
as parking meters or wireless internet gateways may be powered by a wind turbine that
charges a small battery, replacing the need for a connection to the power grid.




Wind energy in many jurisdictions receives some financial or other support to
encourage its development. A key issue is the comparison to other forms of energy
production, and their total cost. Two main points of discussion arise: direct subsidies
and externalities for various sources of electricity, including wind. Wind energy benefits
from subsidies of various kinds in many jurisdictions, either to increase its
attractiveness, or to compensate for subsidies received by other forms of production or
which have significant negative externalities.
In the United States, wind power receives a tax credit for each kilowatt-hour produced;
at 1.9 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2006, the credit has a yearly inflationary adjustment.
Another tax benefit is accelerated tax credits. Many states also provide incentives, such
as exemption from property tax, mandated purchases, and additional markets for "green
credits."

You may qualify for tax credits or rebates for purchasing and installing wind turbines.
Visit our incentives page for more information.




D & R Energy Services provides its clients with products and services from the world's top manufacturers of wind turbines. We can accommodate installation sizes from households to wind farms. We offer the best products, technology, installation and services available. Here's a list of our wind power products.

Traditional Turbines	Vertical Axis Turbines	Large Wind Equipment
Air Breeze	Urban Green Energy	GE Energy
Air-X	Windspire Energy	HZ Windpower
American Zephyr
Bergey	Roof Top Installation
Chinook
Evance
Kestrel
Proven Energy
Southwest Windpower