Stoneforge Chronicles

By John Mauer

Mark Lenz, who operates Lenz Electric, loves to build with new technology. Of course, that means alternative energy these days. And Lenz Electric has installed solar panels for electrical power at over 20 locations in the area. Now, Lenz has installed one of Kent’s first wind turbines at his home. He said, “We have been doing a lot of solar lately, but nobody has done wind.”

Wind turbines can be large stand alone skyscrapers, but they can also be chimney size additions to your home. The latter is the system Lenz has installed as can be seen in the picture. This wind turbine will put out 1 kW average power with a maximum of 1.6 kW, enough to light the lights and then some. The power is not stored in batteries, but fed into the house directly through an inverter. If the power is not used, then a reversible meter records power back to power company, CL&P, who pays for it.

This wind turbine is a vertical axis turbine and comes from Century Wind Energy. The cost is about $6,000 plus installation (tax breaks not included). It cuts in at a wind speed of 6 mph and operates at slightly less; Lenz has measured a fairly steady 7-8 mph with gusts at his home this spring. The torque from the rotating blades takes a fairly hefty support; Lenz’s support is vertical pipe, approximately 12” in diameter, mounted in his attic.

The State of Connecticut has a demonstration program for new energy technology as outlined on Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. Their goal is to set up demonstrations designed to show the feasibility and economic benefits of new technology. The State expects to subsidize this effort and Lenz expects to take part. The demonstration, among other things, needs to show the financial payback of the wind turbine. Lenz said, “There is no way of knowing the payback time. That’s why we are going to monitor it.”

Is wind energy economically feasible far from the western plains? With this kind of turbine, it may well be.