Great Rock Windpower

Towers

A wind turbine must have a clear shot at the wind to perform efficiently. Turbulence, which both reduces performance and "works" the turbine harder than smooth air, is highest close to the ground and diminishes with height. Also, wind speed increases with height above the ground. As a general rule of thumb, you should install a wind turbine on a tower such that it is at the very least 30ft above any obstacles within 300 ft. We do not recommend mounting wind turbines to residential buildings because of the inherent problems of wind shear, turbulence, and vibration.

The most practical tower type is a tilt up tube tower supportd by guy wires. These towers are hinged at their base and equipped to allow them to be tilted up or down using a winch or vehicle. This allows all work to be done at ground level and the turbine to be lowered for maintenance or in case of a hurricane. Some towers and turbines can be easily erected by the purchaser, while others are best left to trained professionals.

Free standing lattice towers take up less ground space but they are also more expensive and more visable . Monoploles are more attractive but add more expense still. The Skystream monopole tilts up but is short and requires a clear smooth site. Most stand-alone models require a crane for raising and an agile climber for maintenance.

Towers are usually offered by wind turbine manufacturers and purchasing one from them is the best way to ensure proper compatibility.

Some tower information and sources:

Endurance Towers