FAQ for Small Wind Systems

Small Wind Turbines are electric generators that use the energy of the wind  to  produce  clean, emissions-free  power  for  individual  homes, farms, and small businesses. With this simple and increasingly popular technology, individuals  can  generate  their  own  power  and  cut  their energy bills while helping to protect the environment.  Unlike utility-scale turbines, small turbines can be suitable for use on properties as small as one acre of land in most areas of the country.

What size turbine is needed to power an entire home?   On average, a typical  American  home  would  require  a  small  turbine  with  a  5-kilowatt  (kW) generating capacity to meet all its electricity needs.  A machine of this size has a diameter  of  approximately  18  feet.    The  exact  size  needed  to  power  a  home, however, can range from 2 kW to 10 kW (12-25 ft. diameter) based on a home’s energy use, average wind speeds, and the turbine’s height above ground (which affects its productivity).
 
How tall are they?  The average height of a small wind turbine (of any capacity) is about 80ft. (about twice the height of a neighborhood telephone pole), with a range of 30-140 ft.  Generator size and tower height are not generally related; a 5-kW turbine could be on a tower anywhere from 30-140 ft. in height, for example.
 
What is the average payback period?  The length of the payback period depends on the turbine, the quality of wind at the installation site, prevailing electricity rates, and available financing and incentives.  Depending on these and other factors, the time it takes to fully recover the cost of a small wind turbine can take anywhere from 6 to 30 years.

How much do they cost?   The purchase and installation of a system large enough to power an entire home costs, on average, $30,000, but the price can range from  $10,000  to  $70,000  depending  on  system  size,  height,  and  installation expenses.  The purchase and installation of very small (<1 kW) off-grid turbines generally cost $4,000 to $9,000, and a 100-kW turbine can cost $350,000.  The federal government and many states have rebate or tax credit programs in place to encourage investment in small wind (see  http://dsireusa.org).
 
What happens when the wind does not blow?  For grid-connected systems, the user will not notice a difference when the wind is not blowing.  The utility provides electricity  when  the  wind  does  not  blow,  and  any  extra  electricity  the  turbine generates is sent back to the utility system to be used by a neighbor.   Off-grid turbines store power in batteries for on-demand use and are often complemented by solar electric panels to provide more consistent generation.
 
Do I need to take wind measurements?  Taking detailed measurements to gauge your wind resource is usually unnecessary.  Individual installers/dealers or manufacturers can determine whether your property is suitable for a system by inspecting the surrounding area.

How much land and wind are required? Will my town let me install a turbine?
Installers recommend sites with average wind speeds of at least 12 mph, but specific land requirements vary from place to place.  Zoning codes sometimes impose a minimum requirement on lot size or on the distance a turbine may be placed from a property line, and may vary depending on the height of the proposed turbine.  Also, it is essential to have a site with unobstructed access to winds, which most often requires higher towers, larger land lots, and non-urban locations.   Currently, less than 1% of all small wind turbines are used in urban applications partly due to zoning restrictions, but mostly because wind quality is much poorer in densely built environments.
 
How does the rated capacity of a small wind system compare to its actual performance?
Rated capacity indicates the rate of energy production at a given wind speed, so the answer depends on wind speed – and the turbine.  A more accurate indicator of energy production, however, is blade length.  A 5-kW turbine (average residential size, 18ft. rotor diameter) produces around 10,000 kWh per year in 12-mph average winds, which is about 100% of what an average U.S. home requires.  At the larger end of the spectrum, a 100-kW turbine (60ft. diameter) in these conditions will generate around 250,000 kWh per year.
 
Are batteries or other storage needed?
For very small systems, yes, but not for residential-scale turbines or larger.  There are two types of systems: those connected to the electricity grid (“on-grid”) and those used off-grid for battery charging or backup power. Most systems sold today are off-grid, but demand is rising for on-grid systems which essentially use the grid as a "battery": when the wind blows, the owner uses electricity from the turbine; when winds are low and consumption is high, the owner uses electricity from the grid. A small wind turbine is more commonly used in conjunction with solar photovoltaic technology than it is with a battery storage system.
 
How are small wind systems maintained?
Routine inspections are performed once every few years of a turbine’s 20+-year lifespan. A professional installer or trained technician (usually the manufacturer or dealer that sold the turbine) maintains the turbine and tower through physical inspections, though some turbines can be monitored remotely from a home computer.
 
How can I advocate for good policies?
AWEA, our members, and our allies actively engage state and federal lawmakers to promote good policies for small wind, such as tax credits, streamlined zoning and permitting, net metering, and standardized grid interconnection rules.

Grassroots activism is a key component of our efforts.