A wind turbine is something that can be easily set up and provides a fairly maintenance free source of power. This guide will cover all the basics of what’s required to generate your own energy from the wind.
5 things you need for a home wind turbine
A generator
This is the key component for the system, it turns the wind into electricity. Blades catch wind energy and spin the generator which creates AC electricity. The energy output, measured in Watts (w) is the key specification when deciding which one to get. You need to mount the generator at least 30 feet above any ground obstacles. If you don’t mount it high enough, the generation will be reduced.
Regulator
The output of a generator fluctuates as the wind speed changes, this variable energy is not directly useful. A regulator takes the generated energy and converts it into a reliable output. Some generators have this built-in, others need a dedicated regulator.
A battery
A car, boat or other battery is required to store the power. A wind generator makes power even when you are not using it, a battery captures the unused energy allowing you to use it when you need it. The more batteries you have the more power you can store.
An inverter
If you want to be able to power a household appliance, you need an inverter. It converts the regulator’s DC output/battery into standard home AC power. You need one or multiple inverters that combined deliver enough Watts to power your load requirements.
The concept is simple, but there is one factor that will determine its success, how much wind is in your area?
Is wind viable in your area?
If you have regular wind above 6 mph then you can effectively run almost any regular generator. If you don’t have that level of wind, you should consider solar or another type of generation as without sufficient wind you won’t generate enough power to outweigh the cost of buying one.
Try google or your local council to find out data about average wind speed in your area.
If you live in a dense city or place that has gale-force winds regularly then a turbine is unlikely worthwhile. If your area has consistent wind, but it is below 6mph, some generators with 10 or more blades have a generation rating below 6mph, these generators, however, do not operate at high wind speeds.
There are a few different blade styles but generally, more blades and bigger blades are better for low wind areas; these same generators tho are not built for strong winds. Fewer blades will spin faster in higher winds and are better for higher wind areas.
How much power can it generate?
The rated power is at certain wind speed, you are unlikely to generate the rated amount at all times. To find the annual output you will get, you need to know the average wind speed in your area, then choose a specific generator and estimate how much it would generate at your average wind speed.
Key details when choosing a generator
- Starting speed – the level where generation starts
- Rated speed – Wind speed for 100% generation
- Safe speed – the max speed for operating safely
Unless your area is always at the rated speed you will generate less than the rated amount. So do not expect a 1000W generator to produce that much on average.
How many Watts do I need?
If you want to power specific low power items only, calculate their power requirements, and choose a generator that will on average exceed those needs at the average wind speed for your area.
If you are wanting to power your whole house, you will likely need multiple generators, or use wind with solar. You can easily look at your home power bill to gauge the amount of energy you use per month. Usually, this is measured in kWh. Here is a guide on estimating power consumption.
If you truly want to go off-grid, when there is no wind you will not be generating anything, you will need to have a large battery bank or draw power from the grid when you are not producing enough.
Solar + Wind for more resilience
To fully cover off-grid power generation, wind + solar can generate a consistent level of power and is much more reliable than wind alone.
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