A small wind electric system can be one of the most effective renewable energy systems for your home or business – lowering your electricity bills by
50 percent to 90 percent. Wind energy could be a good option for
you if:

• Your average electricity bills are $150 or more per month.
• Your property is at least 1 acre in a rural area.
• You have a good wind resource.
• Your local zoning codes or covenants allow wind turbines.
• You are comfortable with long-term investments.
• You are eligible for financial incentives for a small wind energy system.
• For off-grid consideration, your property is in a remote location not easily accessible to utility lines.

Most small turbines usually have two or three fiberglass blades with a rotor that faces the wind and an axis rotation oriented horizontally. Small wind turbines used in residential applications typically range in size from 400 watts to 20 kilowatts. A wind turbine rated in the range of 5 kilowatts to 10 kilowatts would contribute significantly to a typical home, which uses approximately 9,400 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year (about 780 kilowatt-hours per month).

The cost of an installed residential wind energy system (including an 80-foot tower, batteries and inverter) typically ranges from $13,000 to $40,000 for a 3-kilowatt to 10-kilowatt wind turbine.

With proper installation and annual maintenance, a small wind energy system should last 20 years or longer. A manufacturer or dealer can help you estimate the energy production you can expect based on your site’s average annual wind speed and wind turbine size. With this information, you can estimate if your energy savings will justify your investment.

Wind turbines are installed on towers – the higher the tower, the more power the wind turbine can produce. A rule of thumb is to install your wind turbine at least 30 feet (9 meters) above any obstacle that is within 300 feet of the tower. Never attach a turbine to a roof or any other building structure. Not only will this cause annoying vibration to the occupants, it can damage the structure and shorten the life of the turbine.

Some wind energy systems can be connected to the electricity distribution network. An advantage of connecting is that excess power can be sold to the utility and exported to the grid. This is much easier than trying to store the power in a battery system. You accumulate credits that offset your consumption on days when your system production is low. Talk to your utility company about its net metering and interconnection policies.

Reliable off-grid power using a wind turbine will require additional equipment. For example, a hybrid system that combines wind and solar (photovoltaics) offers several advantages over either single system. In the summer, when the sun shines the brightest and longest, wind speeds are
low. Conversely, the wind is strong in the winter, when there is less sunlight. Because the peak operating times for wind and solar occur at different times of the day and year, hybrid systems are more likely to produce power when you need it. Most hybrid systems rely on a backup system such as batteries and/or an engine generator powered by conventional fuels such as diesel.

A few final words of advice: Before installing your wind energy system, reduce your home’s electricity consumption by using energy-efficiency methods. Not only is energy efficiency more cost-effective than energy production, your electricity needs could be met with a smaller, less expensive
wind turbine.

Helpful Links
http://www.NREL.gov/docs/fy07osti/40744.pdf   (1.6 MB PDF)
http://www.dsireusa.org/
http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/

Grace Griego is a senior communicator at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) where she writes about renewable energy and energyefficiency technologies for diverse audiences. NREL is a partner of Smart Energy Living.