![]() ![]() Power ratings for wind turbines generally range from 250 watts to 1.65 megawatts (MW), although today’s biggest onshore turbines, are over 3 MW and some offshore units at 6-7 MW are being tested. The output of a wind turbine depends on the turbine’s size and the wind’s speed through the rotor. ![]() How much electricity can one wind turbine generate? Note that local terrain differences and other factors may mean that the speed recorded at the airport is different from your particular location.įor more information on wind resource assessment, go to NYSERDA’s Wind Resource Assessment Handbook. The National Climatic Data Center collects data from airports in the United States and makes wind data summaries available for purchase. Since average wind speeds increase with height, the wind speed for a typical turbine that is at 80 feet can be as much as 15 to 25 percent greater than what is measured at airport anemometer heights. The wind at airports is generally measured at heights of about 20 to 33 feet above ground. You can also get average wind speed information from a nearby airport. However, this can be costly. As an alternative, wind speeds can be estimated from wind resource maps like the following: this wind resource map of the United States is from the United States Department of Energy and these resource maps are of New York State only: NYS Wind Resource Map #1 and NYS Wind Resource Map #2. The most accurate way to determine wind speeds is to undertake a wind resource assessment. How do I determine if there is enough wind on my site?īefore installing a wind turbine, find out if the wind blows hard and consistently enough at your site to make a small wind turbine system economically feasible. Annual average wind speeds greater than four meters per second (m/s) (9 mph) are generally required for small wind electric turbines although less wind is required for water-pumping operations. The balance-of-system includes a controller, storage batteries, an inverter (power conditioning unit), wiring, electrical disconnect switch, grounding system and a foundation for the tower. ![]() The tail keeps the turbine facing into the wind. The average height for a small wind system tower is 80 feet. The turbine’s frame is the structure onto which a rotor, generator and tail are attached. The diameter of the rotor defines its “swept area” or the quantity of wind intercepted by the turbine. What are the components of a wind system?Ī wind electric system is made up of a wind turbine mounted on a tower to provide better access to stronger winds. Turbine blades are aerodynamically designed to capture the maximum energy from the wind. The shaft is connected to a generator that produces the electricity. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in wind into mechanical power and then into electricity. When wind blows past a turbine, the blades capture the energy and rotate, triggering an internal shaft to spin. Rooftop turbines are especially not recommended in urban areas because physical obstacles such as cell phone towers, skyscrapers and apartment buildings make it almost impossible for them to be consistently hit with adequate wind speeds. Mounting turbines on rooftops is generally not recommended because all turbines vibrate and transmit the vibration to the building on which they are mounted, which can lead to structural problems. You are comfortable with long-term investments.Your property is in a remote location without easy access to utility lines.Your average electricity bills are $150 per month or more.Your local zoning codes or covenants allow wind turbines.Your home or business is located on at least one acre of land in a rural area.Tower-mounted turbines are a good option if: For example, a turbine operating at a site with an average wind speed of 12-mph will generate about 29 percent more electricity than one at an 11-mph site. The power available in the wind is proportional to the cube of its speed, which means that doubling the wind speed increases the available power by a factor of eight. ![]() In general, the higher the tower, the more power the wind system can produce. Turbines mounted on high towers are the most efficient type of small wind installations because average wind speeds increase significantly with height. Small wind installations, which are defined as turbines 100 kilowatts or smaller, are usually used to directly power a home, farm or small business. A wind system is site dependent and is only a viable investment if there is consistent wind of a certain speed. It is estimated that the potential of wind energy in the United States is 10 times the amount of electricity consumption for the entire country. Wind power comes from harnessing the kinetic energy of the wind and transforming it into electrical energy.Wind power has the potential to provide a significant portion of the nation’s energy supply. ![]()
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