3. Decide What Size(s) of Turbine You Need

There is no one “right” turbine size for a given application – it depends on how you plan on using the system and how much you’re willing to spend. In general, it is best to pick a range of potential turbine sizes and then to assess them on a case-by-case basis first using the Ballpark Cost calculator, and then RETScreen (a free software tool). Generally speaking, the steps for sizing your turbine are:

1. Refer to Turbines & Applications and Costs for comparisons of different turbine sizes, their applications, and typical costs.
2. Take your annual electricity demand and multiply it by the percentage you want to satisfy with small wind to determine the annual kWh you need the turbine to satisfy.
3. Take your site’s average annual wind speed and look at the manufacturer’s specifications for each turbine to get an idea of approximately how much energy the turbine would produce.  You can also do this step during your feasibility assessment using free RETScreen software.
4. Compare the generating performance of each model with your peak power needs and the annual electricity you want the turbine to generate for you.

This exercise should give you an idea of 3 or 4 turbine models that might be suitable for your site. Then you can then move on to the more detailed calculations in the planning process.

Typical turbine sizes Following are some typical turbine sizes for different applications, although your electrical use and specific needs may lead to a different result for your situation: A 1.5 kW wind turbine in a location with an annual average wind speed of 6 m/s will produce about 300 kWh of electricity per month. This is enough to satisfy about one third of an average home's electricity requirements. Most residential applications require a machine capacity of between 500 Watts to 10 kW. Farms usually require a turbine with a capacity between 10 kW and 50 kW. Commercial and small industrial uses typically require turbines of 20 kW or larger. Make sure to read the Case Studies to learn more about small wind turbines in different applications.

 

[Previous]