No break in electricity: Wind turbine on rooftop keeps Thrissur home powered day and night

THRISSUR: A house in Thrissur city has a wind turbine on its rooftop! It generates electricity from wind round the clock. At his residence on Puzhakkal MLA Road, V.K. Abdul Azeez, Managing Director of Daya Hospital, is harnessing wind energy alongside solar power to generate electricity.

Abdul Azeez had installed a solar power system ten years ago. However, as the household's electricity requirements increased, he decided to install a 5-kilowatt wind turbine. The installation cost Rs 5 lakh. There are five premium electric cars at the house.

Storage in 15 Minutes

According to Abdul Azeez, the system can generate up to 500 units of electricity during May, June, July, October and November, when wind speeds are higher in Kerala.

With a lithium battery, the electricity can be stored in just 15 minutes. He also receives a fixed payment by transferring surplus electricity to the Electricity Board's grid.

The turbine generates electricity when wind speeds reach 20 kmph. At Abdul Azeez's house, wind speeds exceed 24 kmph. The wind turbine changes its direction according to shifts in the direction of the wind.

Features

• Wind turbines generate electricity both day and night.
• They can be installed securely on a small pole on the rooftop or in the yard.
• Small systems with a capacity of up to 1 kW cost between Rs 45,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh, including the battery and inverter.
• Hybrid system: Solar panels and wind turbines can be connected and used together.

Two Types

• Vertical-axis turbines: These rotate vertically and are suitable for homes. They can rotate regardless of the direction of the wind.
• Horizontal-axis turbines: These have a structure similar to conventional fans and require stronger winds.