Is It Worth Installing a Wind Turbine?
As your energy bills increase , you may want to consider turning to alternative energy sources to reduce costs. As solar energy makes alternative energy sources more affordable, and wind turbine (also known as windmill) manufacturers develop new technologies that make them more practical for a single home, it’s worth considering whether wind-powered electricity is right for you.
Different types of domestic wind turbines
Residential wind turbines have essentially the same configurations found in industrial and commercial applications, but scaled down for individual homes. The most common design is the horizontal axis turbine with two or three blades, but there are also vertical axis turbines of various designs that can be installed in residential applications. Vertical axis turbines sometimes take up less space, so they can be useful if you don’t have the space for a horizontal axis windmill.
How much can you pay for domestic turbines?
According to the Colorado State University Extension Service , the average family can expect to pay $50,000 to install a windmill, as the typical price per kilowatt averages between $4,000 and $8,000. While it’s definitely not a small investment, there are various tax incentives that can save you up to 30% on installation thanks to anti-inflation legislation, and you may also be eligible for state or local windmill purchase credits. Check your eligibility for U.S. Department of Energy tax credits and local programs that encourage solar and wind energy installations.
If you’re using a wind turbine as a backup power source to charge your entire home’s battery, or to supplement another energy source like solar panels, you can find a small 1.5 kW vertical axis wind turbine for as little as $500.
Are residential wind turbines efficient?
Although windmills can be expensive, they are extremely effective. According to the World Economic Forum, when compared to solar panels, which are around 20% efficient, windmills average around 50% efficiency and can reach up to 59% efficiency under optimal conditions. This can mean significant savings on your energy bills—a wind turbine can pay for itself within six to 20 years from installation.
How to Estimate the Size of Wind Turbine You Need
According to the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy , most residential homes use between 800 and 900 kilowatt-hours of electricity each month. To reduce your energy costs, you will need a wind turbine that can generate between five and 15 kilowatts. To get a more accurate idea of how much energy your home typically uses, you can look at your electric bill and average your monthly kilowatt-hour consumption per month. Once you know how much power your turbine will need to produce for your specific home, an expert will need to evaluate the wind conditions in your yard to calculate the size of blades you will need for your turbine. Residential turbine blades can range from four feet to over 50 feet long depending on wind speed, so a wind turbine probably isn’t for you if your average wind speed requires, say, a 100-foot-long windmill.
Disadvantages of installing a wind turbine
Because wind turbines have moving parts, they tend to require more maintenance than solar panels. Because the blades can be damaged by storms and even too strong winds, they need to be serviced more often than solar panels. Wind turbines only work when the wind is blowing, and while they will continue to generate electricity in the dark and on cloudy days, they will not be able to generate electricity if there is no wind. This unpredictability makes them an impractical option as a sole source of energy in most situations. Wind turbines can also be noisy and some people don’t find them visually appealing, which can also be a disadvantage.