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Can I mount my turbine on the roof of one of my
buildings?
This is probably the most asked question of any, and
the one to which there is the least agreement in the entire worldwide
small wind industry, as to the correct answer. Iskra does not currently
supply a wind turbine that can be mounted onto a roof and does not
generally recommend a small wind generator in an urban environment.
Mike Bergey, head of the world’s largest small
turbine manufacturer has been quoted as saying he:
“wishes people would stop asking us about
mounting turbines on buildings”
Paul Gipe, one of America’s most respected small wind
experts says;
“Mounting wind turbines--of any kind--on a
building is a very bad idea. I've yet to see an application where
this has worked or will likely work.”
What is however clear, and accepted by (nearly)
everyone is that, if you are going to mount a turbine on a roof then you
have to consider some issues, which are more prevalent than with a mast
mounted rural one;
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There will be increased turbulence and this will
result in higher stresses on the turbine and lower energy capture
for any given wind speed.
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There will be more people living and working near
the turbine so increased margins of safety need to be applied, and
lower noise generated.
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Extra measures may need to be taken to limit the
transmission of vibrations into the structure of the building.
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The average wind speed in a town or city
environment will be a lot less than in a similar rural location, and
this will significantly reduce the annual energy capture.
Further Reading
If you would like to learn more about the issues with
roof mounting or urban installations of small wind generators, then the
links below may be of interest to you.
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