small wind turbines

The electrical needs of a single-family home may be provided by wind turbines with a power between 1 and 50 kilowatts (kW), and mostly between 1 kW to 6kW.

Different Needs and Capacities

Farms and small communities may require a wind turbine with a capacity between 10 kW and 50 kW.

Many small commercial and industrial uses require wind turbines of 20 kW or larger.

Larger turbines (namely modern 1,5 or more Megawatts mega turbines) are usually part of large projects and wind farms, able to provide electricity to thousands of homes, while micro turbines (below 1kW) are designed to provide electricity to specific uses (batteries charging, sailboats… ).

This page is on small wind turbines for single-family home needs.

Wind Turbines Power

When choosing the turbine capacity, take into account your home’s electrical needs and the wind conditions on your site.

Typically, a wind turbine in the range of 5 to 15 kilowatts will respond to your home’s electrical demand, but the average wind speed in your property is also critical.

Note:
Average electrical home needs range between 4,500 and 11.000 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, and with good wind resources a typical 5kW turbine may produce 13,000 kWh per year.

Property size & Small Wind systems

Small home wind turbines demand a property with a minimum of one acre. Towers with heights between 25m/80 and 37m/120-foot are common, making urban and small properties inadequate to them (unless for experimental urban wind systems).

Wind speed

If you are considering a wind turbine to provide electricity to your home, the wind speed in your property is a crucial issue. It’s surprising how much the wind speed can vary from one location to another within a fairly small area, and how a good site is critical to a high performance.

The annual average wind speed in your property should attain a minimum of 11-13 mph (miles per hour)/6 meters per second.

Obstructions and tower's height

Your small turbine shouldn’t be obstructed by buildings, trees, hills, etc. These obstructions are a source of wind turbulence and a cause of reduced wind speed.

See, for more details:

Wind speed and wind resources
Turbine Towers

On or off the grid?

The on-grid wind turbines option has significant advantages, but the isolation of a site or particular preferences of homeowners may favor a stand-alone wind system solution.

See, for details:

On-grid wind systems
Stand alone wind turbine systems

Legal issues and requirements

Very small wind solutions dispense with official requirements. But small home wind systems demand them and may involve legal issues and permits.

Installation and maintenance

Most small wind turbines are installed by professionals, and require reasonable skills and know-how concerning location, tower erection, installation and regular inspection and maintenance. Manufacturers and their dealers may provide that.

Do-it-yourself solutions usually involve smaller micro wind-systems. Unless you are very skilled, it’s better to let installation and maintenance to professionals.

Technology

Common small wind turbines are 3-bladed, up-wind, with an horizontal axis…

See: Wind Power Generators: Technology

Lifetime

High turbulent winds, snow and extreme cold and dust may shorten a small wind turbine lifetime. But a good and well-maintained home wind turbine can last 20 years or more on average conditions. Non-integrated models provide the possibility of component replacement, and the extension of the turbine lifespan far beyond 20 years.