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| Preface | |
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| Introduction to Small-Scale Wind Energy | |
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| World Wind Energy Resources | |
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| The Pros and Cons of Wind Energy | |
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| The Purpose of this Book | |
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| Organization of this Book | |
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| Understanding Wind and Wind Energy | |
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| What is Wind? | |
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| Offshore and Onshore Winds | |
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| Mountain-Valley Breezes | |
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| Large-Scale Wind Currents | |
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| Wind from Storms | |
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| Friction and Turbulence and Smart Siting | |
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| The Mathematics of Wind Power | |
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| Closing Thoughts | |
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| Wind Energy Systems | |
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| Components of a Wind Energy System | |
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| Wind Energy System Options | |
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| Grid-Connected Systems with Battery Backup | |
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| Off-Grid (Stand-Alone) Systems | |
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| Hybrid Systems | |
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| Choosing a Wind Energy System | |
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| Wind Site Assessment | |
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| Assessing Electrical Demand | |
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| Conservation and Efficiency First! | |
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| Assessing Your Wind Resource | |
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| How Much Electricity Will A Wind Turbine Produce? | |
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| Does a Wind System Make Economic Sense? | |
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| Putting It All Together | |
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| A Primer on Wind Generators | |
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| The Anatomy of a Wind Turbine | |
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| Improvements in Small Wind Turbines | |
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| The Main Components of Wind Turbines | |
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| What to Look for When Buying a Wind Machine | |
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| Other Considerations | |
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| Building Your Own Wind Machine | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| Towers and Tower Installation | |
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| Tower Options | |
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| Homebrew Towers | |
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| Tower Kits | |
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| Tower Anchors and Bases | |
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| Safety First | |
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| Siting a Tower | |
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| Aircraft Safety and the FAA | |
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| Protecting Against Lightning | |
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| Understanding Batteries | |
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| What Types of Batteries Work Best? | |
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| Will Any Lead-Acid Battery Work? | |
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| Wiring a Battery Bank | |
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| Sizing a Battery Bank | |
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| Battery Maintenance and Safety | |
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| Living with Batteries | |
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| Inverters | |
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| Battery-Based Inverters for Off-Grid Systems | |
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| Batteryless Grid-Tied Inverters | |
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| Multifunction Inverters | |
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| Buying an Inverter | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| Maintaining a Wind-Electric System | |
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| What's Required | |
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| Climbable Towers | |
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| Tilt-up Towers | |
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| Final Inspections | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| Final Considerations: Zoning, Permits, Covenants, Utility Companies, Insurance and Buying a System | |
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| Zoning, Building Permits, and Restrictive Covenants | |
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| Zoning Regulations | |
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| Connecting to the Grid: Working with Your Local Utility | |
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| Insurance Requirements | |
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| Buying a Wind Energy System | |
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| Parting Thoughts | |
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| Endnotes | |
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| Resource Guide | |
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| Index | |
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| About the Authors | |