WIND TURBINES: POWER AND SIZE

Small residential wind systems are based on turbines with more than 1 KW (1 kilowatt) of power, or to be more precise, often within the range 1,5 to 6 KW.

But there also:
- micro-turbine systems (below 1kW) and…
- large turbine systems (usually part of onshore and offshore wind farms)

Property size & Small Wind systems

Small residential wind turbines of more than 1 kW aren’t as small as their name suggests. They can be high devices, demanding a property with a minimum of one acre. These wind turbines aren’t suitable for small-lot homes in urban and sub-urban properties. Many of the towers of these systems attain heights of 25m/80 foot or even 37m/120-foot (to raise the turbine above the turbulence of buildings, trees and other obstacles) which make urban and small properties inadequate.

Micro-wind systems for home electricity use may not demand a minimum property size to be implemented, since they involve mini turbines with small towers (usually mere pipes of 2 or 3 meters high).

Property size & Large Wind Turbines

Very large turbines (typically part of wind farms) demand even larger properties and space. Mega turbines should be sited well apart from each other and distances around 2500 feet/750 meters are becoming common.

Home Average Needs & Wind Turbine Production

An average house may use between 4,500 and 11.000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year (this wide variation is largely dependent on climate zones). Take into account these values when sizing a small wind turbine for home electricity generation.

In practice, when assessing the right turbine capacity, manufacturers and installers take into account the power requirements of the homeowner and the wind conditions in his site.

To estimate the turbine power, take into account some values:

- a 1,5kW turbine produces around 3,950 kWh per year
- a 5kW turbine produces around 13,000 kWh per year
- a 15kW turbine produces around 39,500 kWh per year

Obviously, these are just averages and references: the production depends also on factors like the wind loads or the height of the tower…

Mega Wind Turbines Power

A single 2 megawatt turbine can provide the electricity to supply the needs of 1,000 homes…

Some references (just references, since production depends strongly on wind resources) to help you: a 1,5 Mega Watt (MW) turbine may produce on average conditions 3,950,000 kWh per year, while the new 5 MW turbine may produce 13,000,000 kWh per year...

Number of wind turbines

The number of turbines in wind farms may vary a lot, but most small wind systems for individual needs are based on a single turbine.

Multiple turbine systems aren’t usually a good option in small applications: a single larger unit is much cheaper than two or more separate units and installations. Multiple turbine systems are used on village and large wind farms, involving mega turbines.

To choose the right turbine you should first assess your energy requirements and the available wind resources.