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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1998-05-20, Page 13Second Section - May 20, 1998 Windworks & Solar ready for the energy revolution By Crai,, Bradford T -A Reporter LUCAN - Pete Hewerdine is set to cash in on what he feels will be a revolution in the energy busi- ness come the year 2000. Hewerdine owns. Windworks & Solar Ltd., a • one -year-old business that deals in wind genera-. tors and turbines and solar panels. Located n Mooresville Dr. north of Lucan, Hewerdinc's home -and business base is a model of what wind power can do. He powers more than half of his home with wind power including his fridge and freezer. lights, TV, basement sump pump and many other items needing electricity: . . • • A '900 watt wind gcncrator on a 45' tower at the hack of his yard provides enough power to run the entire home when the hydrois out for several days if required. He plans to add a few Solar panels some day (his system can handle solar panels as well) so he can power his home entirely without outside elec- tricity from Ontario Hydro. "it's good to have two sources and to upgrade." Hewcrdine said., especially with the nature of our Changing seasons. Wind power is especially good during the winter and solar power is ohviously-good during the summer.- . He also plans to replace the 7' Wade on his genera- tor with a 9' one and increase the tower to 65'-75' to take advantage -of what he calls "constant wind." Thc 9' blade will- turn • his - gcncrator into a turbine. Here's • how wind power for - homes works. Even a light barely noticeable wind generates DC power stored in four targe -batteries. An inverter converts that DC' power into AC current that is used to power things in the home. "Sometimes 1 generate so, much power 1 have no use for it and 1 have to dump • it :off into the .air." Hewerdine said. He docs that using a unit that turns the energy into heat. • "If 1- get about five good days a month I'm set (for power)." he said. And it doesnt take gale force winds to generate that kind 'of power. though Hewerdine admits his location on Mooresville Dr. is "ideal. "It's like the Plains."'he added. "It's so open." - Though business hasn't been booming. Hewerdine has The wind at his back. Pete Hewerdine stands in front of his wind gen- erator in his backyard. Power climbing. Windworks & Solar Ltd. 's Pete Hewerdine shows how his wind generator 'furls' to , avoid getting damaged' in extremely high winds while still producing power: received a lot of interest and is gearing by acquiring Stock to .be ready . he turn of the century 'wt,,=n. the, hydro supply will ' regulated with the privatiza- tion of . Ont Jro. Then there. will be many. energy supplies s rather than the current almost monopoly by the biggest single energy supplier in, the world. "Near 2000 there will .be a radical. change in hydro," Hewerdine said. He feels energy hills for the average homeowner will skyrocket. That's when he'll be ready with. his alternative.-•- • Hewerdine is the ofonly distributor/dealer ohome wind .power, in eastern Canada, and one of. only two to his knowledge in Canada.. The products he sells come from the U.S. and are usually only available' through the mail. Hewcrdine -said the advantage •of his business is that there's accountability — he takes care of everything from the -sale to installation -to later support. Soon private energy producers will he able to sell - their excess power or put it hack onto the power grid in return for an energy credit or cash. Hewcrdine said his long range goal is to become an.encrgy prcidiuccr from his home. Despite' the fact wind, -generated' power has hecn proven to he reliable. people aren't lining up to buy their wind generators. • - "Once people ser it up and running and sec its use- ful, (wind power) sells itself." Hewcrdine said. "1 don't. know why (the niarketl`hasn't went 'crazy"- , Puhlic skepticism is one reasori wind' power hasn't taken off. though wind generator DC technology has been around- since 1931. People just don't , want to - believe in a power resource that is dependent on the weather. Sarah highlighted what is perhaps the biggest stumbling Klock for wind power. "1 think it's the cost that turns people ,away," she said. • . . An average wind gcncrator system like the 'Hewerdines' costs about $6.500 — for the generator. $1.500 for the inverter and $1.560 for a. tower.- 'Despite' ower.-Despite' the high start-up costs. Hewerdine said a wind generator "easily' pays for itself.' over time with ,the amount homeowners/businesses would save on hydro hills. • . "1 think people look at it as a luxury and it isn't." Hewerdine said. "You can't really lose with it," • He said people hesitate to invest in an alternative power source because hydro lines are hooked up right to their homes _ and they never` have to think' twice before they flick that light switch. Hewerdine -said that perception will change when hydro b,ills hit -the ceiling. The Hewerdines have already saved a lot of money lallrggez Would you IikQ a colour or black and white copy of a photograph? °ia� OSER PIES B-1 /2X11'' sh • sized onto 4 Cost $2..00eaC' ' o f same °pyi additional 4 1.00 each � 424 Main St. Exeter. (51 9) 235-1331 on hydro hills th,) installed their wind generator last November, but can't really tell -the exact- amount of savings due to the mild winter with less than usual winds due to El Nino Those concerned about the.enrironment should be first inline to acquire wind power technology because its use conserves fossil _fuels and•cuts out pollution caused by their consumption; Hewerdine. said., • • Wind generators are perfect .for farm ;operations; especially if the farmer can put the generator. on an- .open n.open silo. That scenario, or even a Small tower built onto a Closed silo, will cut down the costs of- setting up a system since a full-scale tower isn't required, Wind generators arc also good for homes and barns a long distance from_a hydro line. ' Another plus to wind generators is -that their manu- facturers guarantee 'the units•will• still be producing • power sometimes up 16 25 years -from installation.' though the common warranty on a generator's parts is two years. ' Thc higgcst drawback -to wind power is that it c an't• he used in urban• areas since the wind is blocked by buildings and, other structures. But solar power would work well in cities, Hewerdine said. Besides Wind and solarrow•e.r.-there are a plethora of other'power sources-availahlc that people know ht - tic. about. Hewcrdine, said research he has done.shows ' you can, power your home cheaper on a -diesel genera- tor. a battery', bank and an. inverter than with hydro. He . also secs the. steam en€ihc coming hack into proms - nonce some day. ' ' "There's• a lot of different variations that are. cheaper than hydro.;' he said. Hewerdine said he' has always dreamed of harness • - ing the wind for a power source. He grcW up in .Centralia and realized it was always windy, near his home. He made his dream come true- when the high pressure environment at his former jobs as a tool maker •and machinist told him it was:time to work ,for himself at something he loved. .11 also helped that` Hewcrdine is a bit of a daredevil. "I like clinihing high rowers." he said with a shrug. "I like danger." 'He showed that death -defying attitude by climbing - to the top of. his wind generatortower to'show how the generator 'furls' away from 100 mph winds 'to escape damage while still generating power. Sarah. a Xray technician at Lcvtdon Health 'Sciences Centre, said the world won't crash for them if her husband's 'business eventually fails. , "Even if this business doesn't go' anywhere. we're set." she said on where they will be getting there elec- tricity needs. . For more information on wind and solar power Sys- tems. call Hewerdine at 227-082. 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