Has anyone seen this on Maui? We plan to move there and want to reduce our dependence on the grid. The wind speed of the Hawaiian islands is approx. 10% higher than the avg. on the mainland.
Any feedback is appreciated.
You will need a large piece of land or acreage if you plan on installing a wind turbine as most jurisdictions have restrictions. However, Hawaii may be the exception. I inquired about one on my property a while ago and the installation cost was over $20,000, with a 5-7 year payback. Below is an article I found that you might find interesting. Good luck!
You will need a large piece of land or acreage if you plan on installing a wind turbine as most jurisdictions have restrictions. However, Hawaii may be the exception. I inquired about one on my property a while ago and the installation cost was over $20,000, with a 5-7 year payback. Below is an article I found that you might find interesting. Good luck!
References :
With the ever increasing costs of living, there is no better time than right now to stop throwing money out the window and start generating our own electricity.
http://solarcellsavings.com/
1, get a solar water heater. Everybody has them, it’s a no-brainer. Pays for itself in 2-4 years.
One caution for wind turbines is I hear the moving parts corrode very quickly in the humidity, and possibly salt spray, if you live near the beach. I haven’t actually seen anyone with turbines, but have seen some photovoltaic panels.
I don’t know where on Maui you plan to be, but the grid is pretty reliable. It’s not like a third world country. The only time you would lose power for a long time would be if a hurricane goes right over your island, and in that case, a gas generator would be more robust than a windmill or solar panels.
But if by "dependence on the grid" you mean you just want to save money, you could save a little. Maui costs more per kWh than Oahu, which is already more expensive than almost anywhere in the lower 48.
References :
Originally from Hawaii, visit family there almost every year.