A Home Owner Installs a Wind Turbine with a Rotor

question 12

Essay

A home owner installs a wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 2 m to supplement electricity from the public utility. The cost of the turbine, the associated electronics, and energy storage system (batteries) is $10,000. If the turbine has an efficiency of 35% and the energy is utilized and or stored at an efficiency of nearly 100%, what is the payback period for the investment? Assume that maintenance costs are minimal, the capital recovery factor is unity, electricity from the public utility costs $0.10 per kWh, and the wind velocity is constant at 12 m/s.

---

Definitions:

Bankruptcy

A legal proceeding involving a person or business that is unable to repay outstanding debts, which allows for the assets of the debtor to be measured and evaluated, and the liabilities to be discharged or restructured under the protection of bankruptcy court.

Loan Agreement

A contract between a borrower and a lender outlining the terms and conditions of a loan.

Bankruptcy Defense

Strategies or legal arguments used by a defendant in litigation to counter claims made in the context of a bankruptcy case.

Suretyship Agreement

An agreement in which one party (the surety) guarantees the debt of a borrower to a lender, agreeing to repay the debt should the borrower default.