The use of grid tie inverters (GTIs) with wind turbines to connect to the grid has sparked a lot of debate. Here we go, attempting to answer some fundamental questions concerning GTIs, their application with wind turbines, and a summary of developing developments. The majority of the information on this page has been compiled from our numerous talks with the fantastic folks who frequent our Community Forums!
(Almost) Everyone needs an inverter
Inverters convert direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity. The power coming out of your wind turbine or solar array is DC power for most small-scale do-it-yourself power generating (like what people are doing with WindyNation’s products).
When you charge a battery bank, it means the batteries are ready to produce DC power. To use this electricity with standard household appliances and lights, an inverter is required to flip the current into AC power. Unless you’ve wired your house to use just DC appliances and light bulbs, or you’re powering DC appliances, this is true (which are found on some RVs or sailboats, for example).
In summation, whether you’re utilizing a battery bank or connecting directly to the grid, you’ll require an inverter with most small-scale residential systems since, at the end of the day, you’ll need AC power.
What are grid tie inverters?
Grid tie inverters, like any other inverter, convert DC power to AC power. A GTI’s grid-tie component allows energy to be transferred from a renewable source to the grid. Connecting to the grid provides the obvious benefit of balancing out your load for small-scale renewable energy producers (e.g., you don’t have to produce all of your power all of the time).
With a grid tie inverter, you can connect to the grid directly (without batteries) or charge a battery bank while remaining connected to the grid. The advantage of charging a battery bank is having electricity in the event of a power loss, despite the fact that it is more expensive due to the cost of batteries and a grid tie inverter. Tying to the grid, with or without batteries, allows you to lower your utility bill by generating some of your own power. As you watch the meter move backwards in some states and provinces, you may even be paid for the surplus power you provide to the grid.
What are the main considerations I should think about before investing in a GTI?
To begin with, in order to use a GTI, the grid must be accessible (i.e. close), so this type of inverter is not suitable for those of you who live off the grid, as trenching lines to the nearest part of the grid could cost thousands of dollars (or more! ), depending on the distance to the grid and the rates charged by the utility company closest to you.
Second, many customers are now using GTIs that have not been authorized by Underwriters Laboratories to connect their wind turbines to the grid (UL). The fundamental reason that many small-scale wind energy users are employing non-UL-approved GTIs is that most UL-approved wind turbine GTIs are currently programmed to cut-in at rather high voltages (>30 volts), making them incompatible with most small-scale (
It’s possible that you’re connecting to the grid without telling your utility company if you’re using a GTI that isn’t UL-approved. While several forum users have discussed the possibility of getting “in trouble” for connecting to the grid without informing their utility provider, the real risk of connecting to the grid without informing your local utility is that, in the event of a power outage, your system could put line workers in danger of electrocution from the electricity your system is pumping into the grid when the lines are down. In the end, if you want to connect to the grid, you need tell your utility company first.
What are the benefits of connecting to the grid?
According to Larry (leamywind1), a WindyNation forum contributor, you must determine your main aim for the wind turbine (s). Is it your intention to:
- Do you need to charge your batteries?
- Connect to the grid to save money on your power bill?
- How about tying into the grid and getting compensated for it?
A) Charging Batteries
Charging batteries is currently the most viable technique to harness energy from the wind if you live off the grid. A battery bank and inverter system will be the best option for you. When parked without access to electrical hook-ups, some RV drivers and sailboat operators decide to charge a battery bank using renewable energy sources (usually solar) to avoid utilizing gas generators to charge batteries.
This article, on the other hand, is about grid tie inverters. The main benefit of combining batteries with a grid connection via a GTI is that electricity is available in the event of a power outage. You can minimize your electricity bill by generating some of your own power, just as you can with other grid connections.
Batteries do have some disadvantages. They gradually wear out (because to usage patterns and storage), contain a range of hazardous compounds, and charging and discharging batteries lowers the system’s overall efficiency. You must also carefully examine which battery type is best for your machine.
B) Tying into the grid to reduce your electric bill
When you’re connected to the grid, your meter runs backwards anytime you produce more energy than you use. This is known as net-metering, and it involves adding up the kilowatt-hours (kWh) you take from the grid and subtracting the kWh you give back.
This lowers your utility cost since you save money by producing your own electricity instead of buying it from the utility provider. The disadvantage of this solution over batteries is that it lacks storage capacity. The advantage is that you don’t have to worry about batteries.
C) Tying into the grid and getting paid for it
You may also be familiar with renewable energy certificates (RECs), which serve as a reimbursement mechanism for the wind energy you generate. Making money by selling the renewable component of the energy you generate is a complicated procedure that varies greatly from state to state. Some of the core concepts underpinning RECs can be found here.
What are the different types of grid tie inverters out there?
We’ve prepared a few reviews from our Community Forum members for your consideration. Members’ identities have been added to specific reviews so you can contact them directly if you have any queries. Links to other GTIs’ information have been supplied (thanks to Forum Member Minnesota for the links to the UL-approved GTIs listed here). Although not exhaustive, this list contains the GTIs that our most active Forum users have cited the most frequently.
Please be aware that our lawyer has requested that we remind you of the following:
Two further notes of caution related to GTIs:
- It’s critical to use GTIs developed for WIND applications rather than solar, as they’re built to tolerate the voltage swings that come with using wind as a source of energy.
- If the GTI you’re using doesn’t have overvoltage protection, make sure you have anything in place to cope with it (additional capacity, battery clamping, etc.).
Minnesota, a Community Forums Frequent Flyer, explains: “Under 1000W and $500, there is still no affordable wind GTI on the market. That would be a hit.”
Is there anything we’ve overlooked? Do you want to tell us about your GTI adventures? Send us an email or make a post on our Community Forums!
Is it possible to integrate a wind turbine with my off-grid solar system?
We do not sell 240-volt AC wind generators, but we do offer four other options for you to consider:
- Install a hybrid inverter and battery in place of your present solar inverter, and link the wind turbine to the battery. The cost is approximately $4000, plus the cost of the wind generator.
- Install a Luxpower ESS beside your existing solar inverter while keeping the rest of your solar system the same. Attach a small battery to the ESS and connect the wind turbine to it.
- Connect your solar panels, inverter, and wind generator to the same battery using an existing Latronics PV Edge 1200 inverter.
- Install a Selectronic inverter and battery, with the Selectronic inverter monitoring the wind generator output.
Is it possible to connect a wind turbine to the power grid?
Gridconnected systems are small wind energy installations that are connected to the electricity distribution infrastructure. A grid-connected wind turbine can lower your utility-supplied electricity consumption for lighting, appliances, and electric heat.
Is it possible to combine a wind turbine and solar panels?
Wind generators will generate power on a continuous basis, which means you’ll need a place to discharge the excess energy. If you want to use a wind generator, you should get one of the controllers built expressly for this reason. This will enable you to use the excess energy generated by the wind turbine system to power a water heater or other equipment. Using one of these controllers solves a possible problem while also increasing efficiency because the extra energy can always be put to good use.
The same wiring technique can be used to connect wind generators and solar panels. All you have to do now is conduct some research and get a controller that can handle both systems. The setup is quite simple and will vary slightly depending on the specific energy systems you’re using. Many people who utilize these systems try to rig the wiring on their own, which is usually a bad idea. When working with such a large amount of energy, a lot may go wrong, and you could easily damage yourself or cause a fire. Rather than dealing with these potential dangers, hiring a professional to put the system together for you is a prudent alternative. Another advantage of going this method is that you may have the business examine your system and offer a controller that can handle both solar panels and wind generators.
Some people believe that they require separate wiring for each energy system they use. This is far from the case, and it is incredibly inefficient when you consider how simple it is to merge the wiring. All you’ll need is a controller that can manage both of them at the same time. These controllers are also reasonably priced, so there’s no necessity to set up two distinct wiring systems.
Call a professional to inspect your solar panels and wind generators if you want to make the process much simpler on yourself and avoid a potential disaster. They’ll have the knowledge to properly examine your system and should also have the essential parts on hand to do the task. Many people live off the grid as well. If you’re in this circumstance and don’t have access to a specialist, do your homework and take all essential safety steps.
Is it possible to charge a wind turbine with a solar charge controller?
Wind turbines require sophisticated charge controllers that avoid battery overcharging while also diverting excess energy to a dump load to keep the rotor from spinning too quickly and risking damage. Charge controllers for wind turbines typically convert AC current to DC current, which is required for AC wind turbines, which are relatively frequent.
Can I use a solar charge controller for a wind turbine?
No. While a solar charge controller can be used to get power from a wind turbine in some situations, they lack the necessary safety features (such as overspeed breaking circuits) to be used with most wind turbines. With wind turbines, always use a properly rated wind charge controller or a mixed wind solar charge controller.
What does a wind turbine controller do?
A wind turbine controller prevents overcharging of your battery bank, applies breaking loads to restrict wind turbine overspeeds caused by high winds or low loading, and converts AC power generated by wind turbine 3-phase alternators to DC power used by all battery banks.
Is it possible to run a wind turbine without batteries?
There are increasingly systems that do not use a battery bank at all, with electricity flowing directly from the wind turbine into a special “grid-tie” converter and ultimately into the grid. These straight grid-tie systems also have the advantage of being less expensive (since there are no batteries to pay for) and more efficient (because the electricity does not have to transit through a battery bank first). On the flipside, if there is a blackout, your wind turbine system will likewise shut down, leaving your home or business without power.
Is it necessary to obtain planning clearance before erecting a wind turbine?
If all of the following criteria are met, a wind turbine on a detached house or an outbuilding to any house does not require planning permission: It meets or exceeds Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) Planning Standards. This is a measurement of the turbine’s noise output.
Is an inverter required for a wind turbine?
Is a wind turbine inverter required? It all relies on the wind turbine’s intended use. There is no need for an inverter if you have DC appliances or devices. It’s common to have a large bank of deep-cycle batteries in an off-grid environment, and it makes sense to use the DC output from a turbine to accomplish so.
Hardware
- SunSynk/Deye/Inge
- Pylontech US3000 (seven)
In terms of software monitoring, the Inge, SunSynk, and Deye inverters are identical.
SolarAssistant’s USB to RS485 cable is used to monitor the inverter via the RS485 interface. It’s also possible to use the WiFi/RS232 port.
A 7x Pylontech US3000 battery bank is used in this installation, which is also monitored via a USB to RS232 console cable.