CanWEA: SmallWind: Your Turbine Site

Crucial Stuff: Proximity to Obstructions
Is your property suitable for putting up a turbine?

Small wind turbines should be installed on large lots (at least a half acre or more) with relatively few obstructions. You need to be sure you are able to site your turbine in a high-wind area of your property that is far enough from buildings, treetops, fences, etc. You can do this either by finding a clearing, or putting the wind turbine on a sufficiently tall tower (note that this can significantly increase the cost of the installation!)

For safety and to access the best wind on your site, ensure you can mount the turbine on a tower that is:

A distance of at least one tower height from current and proposed property lines and structures to prevent damage or injury from a potential tower or cable fault.
Positioned with enough room so you can raise and lower the tower for maintenance, and stabilize it with guy wires.
100 metres horizontally from any obstacles that are at approximately the same height (such as larger trees or buildings - remember that trees grow!) This will ensure smooth airflow for years to come.
On the top of or on the consistently windy side of any hills on your property, so you have more access to prevailing winds (as opposed to in a gully or on the leeward/sheltered side of a hill).

The image below demonstrates how important it is to place wind turbines away from obstructions and the turbulent air flow they create.

If you have a suitable turbine location that meets the above criteria, then continue to:

You may be surprised by how much the wind speed can vary from one location to another within a fairly small area. Good siting is critical to good turbine performance (remembering that the energy in wind rises by a factor of eight for every doubling of wind speed!)

Here are some aspects to consider when siting your small wind turbine.