Wing buzzing is sweet music
10/7/2014
GØTTRUP: Kurt Christensen lives with his wife Inger Gaardahl on a disused farm near Gøttrup. He has just installed a 25 meter high wind turbine in his backyard, which will provide cheap electricity for at least the next 20 years. At least that is what he has been promised by the manufacturer.
The turbine was erected at the end of June, but before that could happen, trees had to be cleared and roots removed. Then a hole had to be dug in which iron and cast concrete were placed so that the foundation could support the large wind turbine.
When the wind turbine was hoisted, many interested people stopped by to be treated to sausages, beer and water.
Right now, the wings aren't spinning as fast. There's not as much wind here in the summer as there is during the rest of the season. But it feels really good in the stomach, says the happy owner.
- It's a really nice feeling to stand and look at it. Now I'm looking forward to seeing it get started in earnest, says Kurt Christensen.
He says the family desperately needs the power the turbine can produce. It is expected to produce 50,000 kWh per year. The family's consumption is 24,000 kWh because the house is old and is heated with electric radiators from the 70s. Kurt Christensen has considered other methods such as geothermal heating, but it would be too expensive as the entire floor would have to be broken up and would ultimately cost about half the price of the turbine. So the decision was easy to make:
- We were very much in agreement on the decision. We've been talking about it for the last two years and have spent six months figuring out exactly what we needed," says Kurt Christensen.
The turbine is located about 50 meters from the house, but the family is not bothered by noise, shadows or flashes of light. It is located northwest of the house and the whirring of the rotating blades cannot be heard through the windows of the house, only faintly outside, depending on wind direction and strength, says Kurt Christensen.
Neighbors are also not bothered by the turbine, as the house is surrounded by open land.
GØTTRUP: Kurt Christensen lives with his wife Inger Gaardahl on a disused farm near Gøttrup. He has just installed a 25 meter high wind turbine in his backyard, which will provide cheap electricity for at least the next 20 years. At least that is what he has been promised by the manufacturer.
The turbine was erected at the end of June, but before that could happen, trees had to be cleared and roots removed. Then a hole had to be dug in which iron and cast concrete were placed so that the foundation could support the large wind turbine.
When the wind turbine was hoisted, many interested people stopped by to be treated to sausages, beer and water.
Right now, the wings aren't spinning as fast. There's not as much wind here in the summer as there is during the rest of the season. But it feels really good in the stomach, says the happy owner.
- It's a really nice feeling to stand and look at it. Now I'm looking forward to seeing it get started in earnest, says Kurt Christensen.
He says the family desperately needs the power the turbine can produce. It is expected to produce 50,000 kWh per year. The family's consumption is 24,000 kWh because the house is old and is heated with electric radiators from the 70s. Kurt Christensen has considered other methods such as geothermal heating, but it would be too expensive as the entire floor would have to be broken up and would ultimately cost about half the price of the turbine. So the decision was easy to make:
- We were very much in agreement on the decision. We've been talking about it for the last two years and have spent six months figuring out exactly what we needed," says Kurt Christensen.
The turbine is located about 50 meters from the house, but the family is not bothered by noise, shadows or flashes of light. It is located northwest of the house and the whirring of the rotating blades cannot be heard through the windows of the house, only faintly outside, depending on wind direction and strength, says Kurt Christensen.
Neighbors are also not bothered by the turbine, as the house is surrounded by open land.
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If you'd like to hear more about whether a Viking VS turbine could be the right choice for you, please don't hesitate to contact us. We are always ready with guidance and advice - whether you already own a small wind turbine or are thinking of investing in one.
