How do residential wind turbines work?

A wind turbine, which is installed on top of a tall tower, collects kinetic energy from the wind and converts it to electricity that is compatible with a home's electrical system.

In a normal residential application, a home is served simultaneously by the wind turbine and a local utility. If the wind speeds are below cut-in speed (7-10 mph) there will be no output from the turbine and all of the needed power is purchased from the utility. As wind speeds increase, turbine output increases and the amount of power purchased from the utility is proportionately decreased. When the turbine produces more power than the house needs, the extra electricity is sold to the utility. All of this is done automatically. There are no batteries in a modern residential wind system.

Will a small wind turbine save me money?

A wind turbine typically lowers a household electricity bill by 50% to 90%. It is not uncommon for wind turbine owners with total-electric homes to have monthly utility bills of only $8 to $15 for nine months of the year. In northern parts of the U.S. where less air conditioning is used the bills can be very low year-round. The amount of money a small wind turbine saves you in the long run will depend upon its cost, the amount of electricity you use, the average wind speed at your site, and other factors.

Since energy conservation is usually less expensive than energy production, making your house or farm more energy-efficient first will likely reduce the amount of investment in a wind system to meet your needs. Most wind system purchasers have done all the reasonable efficiency measures first.

What size turbine do I need for my home?

Homes use approximately 10,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year (about 830 kWh per month). Depending upon the average wind speed in the area, a wind turbine rated in the range of 5 to 15 kilowatts would be required to make a significant contribution to meet this demand.

Other Frequently Asked Questions about Small Wind (Home Application) Wind Generation

 Who should consider buying a wind turbine? Will it help the environment if I install a wind turbine at my home? Don't I have to take wind measurements for a year or more? Do wind turbines make noise or interfere with TV reception? Do small wind turbines kill birds? Are small wind turbines safe? Will a small wind turbine damage neighboring property values? Will my utility allow me to hook up a wind generator? Will my local government allow me to install a wind turbine? Will I have to change any of the wiring in my house? What about towers? How much does a wind system cost? How reliable are wind turbines? Will I have to perform much maintenance? How do wind turbines perform as an investment? How would I have a wind turbine installed at my home? Is there anything I should watch out for in buying a small wind turbine? How can I find out more about the experiences of people who own small wind systems? How many turbines are needed to power a household or farm? How do small turbine costs compare to the costs of other alternatives? Why are small wind turbines better than diesel generators or extension of utility lines in developing countries? How do small wind turbines compare with other renewable energy technologies suitable for decentralized rural electrification? I've heard about a new small wind turbine that starts up and runs at very low wind speeds. Is that a new idea? Aren't wind turbines too "high-tech" for rural people? What companies make small wind electric systems? What companies make water pumping wind turbines?

(FAQs provided by American Wind Energy Association http://www.awea.org/smallwind/faq.html)