The size of the wind turbine you need depends on your application. Small turbines range in size from
20 watts to 100 kilowatts. The smaller or “micro” (20–500-watt)
turbines are used in a variety of applications such as charging
batteries for recreational vehicles and sailboats.
One- to 10-kW
turbines can be used in applications such as pumping water. Wind energy
has been used for centuries to pump water and grind grain. Although
mechanical windmills still provide a sensible, low-cost option for
pumping water in low-wind areas, farmers and ranchers are finding that
wind-electric pumping is a little more versatile and they can pump twice
the volume for the same initial investment. In addition, mechanical
windmills must be placed directly above the well, which may not take the
best advantage of available wind resources.
Wind-electric pumping systems can be placed where the wind resource is the best and connected to the pump motor with an electric cable.
Residential Applications
Turbines
used in residential applications can range in size from 400 watts to
100 kW (100 kW for very large loads), depending on the amount of
electricity you want to generate. For residential applications, you
should establish an energy budget to help define the size of turbine you
will need. Because energy efficiency is usually less expensive than
energy production, making your house more energy efficient first will
probably be more cost effective and will reduce the size of the wind
turbine you need.
Wind turbine manufacturers can help you size
your system based on your electricity needs and the specifics of local
wind patterns.
Home Use
A
typical home uses approximately 9400 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of
electricity per year (about 780 kWh per month). Depending on the average wind speed
in the area, a wind turbine rated in the range of 5 to 15 kilowatts
(kW) would be required to make a significant contribution to this
demand. A 1.5- kW wind turbine will meet the needs of a home requiring
300 kWh per month in a location with a 14-mile-per-hour
(6.26-meters-persecond) annual average wind speed. The manufacturer can
provide you with the expected annual energy output of the turbine as a
function of annual average wind speed. The manufacturer will also
provide information on the maximum wind speed at which the turbine is
designed to operate safely.
Most turbines have automatic over speed-governing systems to keep the rotor from spinning out of
control in very high winds. This information, along with your local wind
speed and your energy budget, will help you decide which size turbine
will best meet your electricity needs.
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