Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a residential wind turbine produce per year?
A 10 kW residential turbine at a site with average 12 mph wind speed produces roughly 14,000-18,000 kWh per year, enough to cover most of a typical American home's 10,500 kWh annual consumption. Production varies significantly with wind speed - doubling wind speed roughly triples power output (power scales with the cube of wind speed).
What wind speed is needed for a profitable residential wind turbine?
Most turbine manufacturers recommend a minimum average annual wind speed of 10 mph (4.5 m/s) for a viable installation, with 12-14 mph (5.4-6.3 m/s) being the sweet spot for residential turbines. Below 7 mph, wind power is generally not economical. NREL's wind resource maps can show average wind speeds at your location.
What is a wind turbine capacity factor?
Capacity factor is actual energy output divided by maximum possible output if running at full rated power 24/7. A 10 kW turbine running at 25% capacity factor produces 10 × 0.25 × 8,760 = 21,900 kWh/year. Residential turbines typically achieve 15-35% capacity factors depending on site wind resources, compared to 35-45% for large utility-scale wind farms.
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