An analytical study of a hybrid wind-passive solar system

This paper presents the results of an analytical performance and economic evaluation of a combined passive solar and wind powered residential heating and electrical energy system. Simulated in a New England wind and weather environment, the modeled system is based on the coupling of a vertical axis wind turbine with a super-insulated passive solar house. The analytical model is composed of four major sections: (1) residential heating and energy load; (2) wind turbine generator system; (3) energy system performance model; and (4) life-cycle costing economic analysis. Results for the heating, electrical supply and economic performance of the system are presented, varying such key parameters as residence window area, insulation, storage size, wind turbine size, and site average wind speed. These results show that when sited in adequate wind regimes (average wind speed greater than 5.4 m/sec (12 mph)) and coupled with super-insulated passive structures, wind turbines can provide significant fractions of the electrical and heating requirements in the New England environment.