OT wind generators

But . . . with many using solar-electric systems - the addition of small wind-system (1000 - 2000 watt) often offers a needed gain - since wind often blows when the sun isn't shining. And, these systems already have the needed electronics, so the added wind-power is not very expensive. In my area, we get a lot of wind in the dark winter months - and just about none in the summer when the sun comes back. A small wind rig takes the place of a fuel-driven generator being run to keep the battery-bank up (assuming the system has one). Many newer solar grid-tie systems are hybrid with a standby battery bank. My Canadian Rolls/Surette 48 volt bank cost $6000, and I'm trying to make it last.

So, #1 you have to find out if your power company IS.

I'm sell power to our electric company everyday - here in central New York. They let it accrue for one year - and then give us a credit if they owe us. We still pay a $16 per month fee, just to be hooked up - but that's all.

In Michigan, it's a bit different. If you are grid-tied, and make a surplus each year - the power company gets to keep it, mark the books at "zero" and then start over. So, you if you make a lot, you end up giving away the surplus.

At that rate a back yard generator would start to make sense, especially if having a power generation on your farm made sense. I have a generator that gets used once or twice a year. Why not have a generator that gets used year round?

When we ran the numbers we determined that we'd need to put up some really big wind generator to break even inside of 30 years on the investment. Better instead, we determined, to use the wind generators to charge batteries and go mostly off-grid, if we were indeed looking to reduce our electric bill.

Not to discourage you, though, it's a great hobby. But if you're looking to net-meter and power the grid, I hope you've got much deeper pockets than I do. :)