Ultra-Quiet Rooftop Wind Turbine Arrives in United States

Posted on October 27, 2008 by Ariel Schwartz

Noise is one of the major barriers for homeowners considering rooftop turbines. But SWIFT’s rooftop turbine, released today in the US and Canada, claims to be “silent enough to perch on a home, yet robust enough to secure a skyscraper.” The uniquely designed turbine has five blades measuring seven feet in diameter as well as two fins to direct the turbine towards the wind. The blades are surrounded by a ring that cuts the noise level to 35 decibels while reducing vibrations.

According to SWIFT, the turbine can generate 1.5 KW with 14 mile per hour winds and approximately 2,000 KWh each year. That means the SWIFT could potentially provide a quarter or more of the average American household’s energy.

The SWIFT is only available right now in the Northeast US, Great Lakes States, and Western Canada. Depending on the cost of installation, conventional electricity costs, wind speeds, and incentives, the SWIFT could pay for itself in as little as three years. And at $10,000 a pop, the turbine costs less than the average per-watt cost of solar panels.

So as long as your neighbors don’t mind a turbine on your roof, SWIFT’s product might be worth looking into.

Ariel Schwartz (374 Posts)

Ariel Schwartz was formerly the editor of CleanTechnica and is a contributor at Fast Company, Inhabitat, Triple Pundit, SF Weekly, and NBC Bay Area Online. A graduate of Vassar College, she has previously worked in publishing, organic farming, documentary film, and newspaper journalism. Her interests include permaculture, hiking, skiing, music, relocalization, and cob (the building material). She currently resides in San Francisco, CA.

Christina Fortner

Can I instal these myself? How hard to install if I purchase?
http://windenergy7.com/turbines/ Home Turbines

That design is another curious distraction to the consumer. Nice for a design competition for creative visual but not the best industrial model for productivity. The goal is small footprint, lightweight, rooftop, WindEnergy7.com has a better system I think, that is more cost effective to deliver home wind energy with their rooftop turbine.
http://windenergy7.com/turbines/ Home Turbines

That design is another curious distraction to the consumer. Nice for a design competition for creative visual but not the best industrial model for productivity. The goal is small footprint, lightweight, rooftop, WindEnergy7.com has a better system I think, that is more cost effective to deliver home wind energy with their rooftop turbine.
http://www.bkges.com Tbailey

My question is where in the country was the testing done for their output production. If it was Oklahoma where wind blows like crazy then this thing may one day pay for itself, here in Florida only wind we get is at 150mph every summer. My question would be could you sell the carbon tonage that your not using with commercial power to offset installation costs for the wind turbine. Maybe your local power company will buy your carbon credits to offset your utility bill.

Tbailey, PE

http://www.bkges.com
http://www.bkges.com Tbailey

My question is where in the country was the testing done for their output production. If it was Oklahoma where wind blows like crazy then this thing may one day pay for itself, here in Florida only wind we get is at 150mph every summer. My question would be could you sell the carbon tonage that your not using with commercial power to offset installation costs for the wind turbine. Maybe your local power company will buy your carbon credits to offset your utility bill.

Tbailey, PE

http://www.bkges.com
http://www.cellsforcells.com Jason Clements

We live in exciting times! The first person/company to make this affordable (as in being able to purchase it at your local Wal-Mart) and easy to plug and play will be the winner. I agree that 10k is way to high to enter the market. As far as neighbors go, just think back when you were the first with a dish on your house – it might have looked a little odd; but you were now enjoying some great new television. I think the same will happen with the “on-house” wind generator. If you are the first, it might seem odd; but soon, everyone will have one.

All the best,

Jason
http://www.cellsforcells.com Jason Clements

We live in exciting times! The first person/company to make this affordable (as in being able to purchase it at your local Wal-Mart) and easy to plug and play will be the winner. I agree that 10k is way to high to enter the market. As far as neighbors go, just think back when you were the first with a dish on your house – it might have looked a little odd; but you were now enjoying some great new television. I think the same will happen with the “on-house” wind generator. If you are the first, it might seem odd; but soon, everyone will have one.

All the best,

Jason
Glimpf

according to the Energy Information Administration (official energy statistics from the US government) in 2006 the average monthly household consumption of electricity was 920 kWh.

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/ask/electricity_faqs.asp#electricity_use_home

which gives annual household consumption of 11,040 on average. 2,000 kWh is almost right in the middle 1/5 and 1/6 of the average household use, not 1/4 as Swift claims. The site also shows the same costs per kWh Cash described above.

I really want alternative energy ideas out there and available, but companies have to be more realistic with their numbers. I know they’re trying to sell, but if they only present the high end results for their device it will lead to disappointed consumers and only hurt the cause.
Glimpf

according to the Energy Information Administration (official energy statistics from the US government) in 2006 the average monthly household consumption of electricity was 920 kWh.

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/ask/electricity_faqs.asp#electricity_use_home

which gives annual household consumption of 11,040 on average. 2,000 kWh is almost right in the middle 1/5 and 1/6 of the average household use, not 1/4 as Swift claims. The site also shows the same costs per kWh Cash described above.

I really want alternative energy ideas out there and available, but companies have to be more realistic with their numbers. I know they’re trying to sell, but if they only present the high end results for their device it will lead to disappointed consumers and only hurt the cause.
Joe

10k for 1.5kW is not cheaper than solar. It’s about 7 dollars a watt which is about twice the cost of solar, currently, and about 3 times the cost regular micro wind. I guess they are selling the quiet aspects, but they really shouldn’t try and push the price, because it’s quite high.
Joe

10k for 1.5kW is not cheaper than solar. It’s about 7 dollars a watt which is about twice the cost of solar, currently, and about 3 times the cost regular micro wind. I guess they are selling the quiet aspects, but they really shouldn’t try and push the price, because it’s quite high.
paul

Anyone know if state or fed govt provides cash credits or tax incentives to purchase this type of power supplement?
Scott_T

Hard to understand how something as simple as a wing and a generator can cost so much. Its not like you need a clean room to make these things.
Scott_T

Hard to understand how something as simple as a wing and a generator can cost so much. Its not like you need a clean room to make these things.
paul

Anyone know if state or fed govt provides cash credits or tax incentives to purchase this type of power supplement?
Ariel Schwartz

Cash – that is the company’s estimate, though they say the payoff time varies.
Cash

What am I missing about the numbers provided above?

For $10,000 to pay off in 3 years (neglecting interest), each year it has to produce 10,000/3 = $3,333 in energy. At an annual production of 2000kWh, this would mean electricity has to be selling at $1.67/kWh. This is ridiculiously high, as California pays about 15 cents/kWh and New England pays 17.5 cents/kWh. Even Hawaii only pays 33 cents/kWh. Even assuming Hawaii rates, it would take a little over 15 years to pay off.

Who made the math mistake, me or the author?
Cash

What am I missing about the numbers provided above?

For $10,000 to pay off in 3 years (neglecting interest), each year it has to produce 10,000/3 = $3,333 in energy. At an annual production of 2000kWh, this would mean electricity has to be selling at $1.67/kWh. This is ridiculiously high, as California pays about 15 cents/kWh and New England pays 17.5 cents/kWh. Even Hawaii only pays 33 cents/kWh. Even assuming Hawaii rates, it would take a little over 15 years to pay off.

Who made the math mistake, me or the author?