Author Archives: hugh

About hugh

I live off-grid in NW Scotland and have spent my life playing with wind turbines. I also love small hydros. Hands on renewable energy is my thing and I like to learn and to share my experiences.

Planet Mechanics ‘invent’ a wind turbine

National Geographics channel program “water wars” in the Planet Mechanics series shows inventor Jem Stansfield coming up with a wind turbine design that looks rather coincidentally close to my own. The diagrams are lifted straight out of my alternator plans … Continue reading

Posted in Books, construction, People | 10 Comments

Update to the copper cable size and length recommendations in my Recipe Books

Although it has been almost five years since my Wind Turbine Recipe Book first went on sale, I am still actively updating it and improving the advice I give to make it simpler, more reliable and more efficient. This summer … Continue reading

Posted in Books, construction | 5 Comments

Kilkenny Workshop Photos

Photos from the workshop at Kingsriver community with Glas Learning and Eirbyte My camera died on the first day so I only had my phone, so not the best.  We built a 2.4 diameter 24-V and erected the existing 4.2 … Continue reading

Posted in construction, courses | Leave a comment

Jonathan’s German language blog

Jonathan has asked me “if you can make a post on your blog and let the world know that there is a blog from austria for german readers about diy windmill development??” http://jonnyswindblog.wordpress.com/

Posted in construction, People | Leave a comment

Another workshop course in Ireland soon

for more information see this link    

Posted in construction, courses, Notices | Leave a comment

MCS Certified wind turbines – a safe investment? Eoltec is back on the list.

From time to time I comment on the list of approved wind turbines that qualify for the hefty Feed-in-Tariffs that are being dished out and that make small wind turbines a Money Earner (potentially) in the UK lately. I am … Continue reading

Posted in products/technical, UK small wind scene | 13 Comments

Secondhand batteries

If anyone needs cheap batteries for an off-grid system, try asking my neighbour Lawrence Buchan 077 37308766.  He has some nice Yuasa endurance batteries in 6-V blocks, 100Ah and 160 Ah sizes.

Posted in products/technical, UK small wind scene | 8 Comments

Comet -Me wind turbine and solar panel installation in Shaeb Al Buttum, Palestine

Thanks to Noam Dotan of Comet-Me for this video link

Posted in developing world, People, Video links | 1 Comment

More photos from Uganda

    Hello Hugh  The Great, Good Morning ? This is Samuel Agwotu With the Uganda Veterans Wind Power Initiative ,  it has been a while though, Just to get you updated, UVWPI , with UMEC (UGANDA MILITARY ENGINEERING COLLEGE) … Continue reading

Posted in construction, developing world, People | 4 Comments

Workshop in Leitrim with Eirbyte

Here are some photos and a video of the workshop.  We built a 4200 recipe machine with 48-V battery charging output and a new design of 2 metre, 24-V turbine with ferrite magnets.  

Posted in construction, courses, ferrite magnets, Video links | 9 Comments