Micro Wind Turbines for the Common Houseowner

Most wind projects that are installed today are large scale wind farms, that include more than 30 wind turbines. These wind farms are located in areas of high wind, which tend to be sparsely populated. These is similar to solar panels and how they are best suitable to remote desert areas. However, solar panels are being installed in residential areas to provide energy on a small scale. Wind turbines haven't caught on this trend due to noise pollution and visual impacts on the landscape. Is it possible to make wind energy work in residential projects? A company called Totempower Energy Systems has developed an idea to tackle this exact dilemma. They are developing micro-wind turbines which are made specially for residential and small commercial applications, with specialization in easy installation and close quarter operation. On top of that, Totempower makes it easy to own and maintain a micro-wind turbine. They claim that their turbines require no excavation to install, and run without extended maintenance. This works right into the hand a homeowner who wants to use wind energy and not deal with costly repairs and maintenance. The other aspect that Totempower offers is integrating the micro-turbine into the grid and into the home's electrical system. This lowers the overall cost for the homeowner because this one company is taking care of all these aspects. The homeowner doesn't have to research the best turbine, research how the grid integration will take place, find out the local regilations and discounts, or have to worry about installation. This deal sounds quite applicable on paper, but is it feasible in reality? Totempower claims that this turbine can produce significant electricity using a technology which allows for lower blade speed; however, is this a reputable claim? I think that this is an interesting field for wind energy in general, but it will take some actual implementation to decide whether turbines are suited to residential projects. People install solar panels on their roofs, so is installing micro-wind turbines in your backyard a good, economical idea for the future?

Source: http://cleantechnica.com/2010/10/30/new-micro-wind-turbine-company-makes-owning-wind-power-a-breeze/