Comparison

Small Wind Turbine Category

Battery Charging
& Light Seasonal
Loads

Residential
& Heavy Seasonal
Loads

Commercial,
Institutional, Farm, Remote Community***

Typical Power Rating

300 to 1,000 W
(0.3 to 1 kW)

Above 1 kW to 30 kW

Above 30 kW to 300 kW

Average Capital Cost*
of Turbine only
per unit Power

$2,800/kW

$3,000/kW

$2,200/kW

Average Total
Installed Cost*
per unit Power

$5,000-$6,400/kW

$6,000/kW

$3,300/kW

Average Annual Operations & Maintenance
(O&M) Cost*

$40-130/yr

$1,150/yr

$3,300/yr

Typical Installation by

User

Professional

Professional

Typical Lifetime**

10-15 yrs

20 yrs

25 yrs
with major component replacement typically after 15 yrs

Comments

Larger machines in this range may require a crane to raise/lower, making more difficult and costlier to maintain than smaller turbines

Requires crane to raise/lower, making more difficult and considerably costlier to maintain on rough terrain or in remote areas