Wind turbines are another great means of renewable power. They do require a larger amount of space to install and they produce the most energy in areas that have an average wind speed of 12 mph or greater year round. Wind turbines, like PV systems, can be grid tied or off grid with the use of batteries and inverters. Most of the smaller turbines can be installed without the use of a crane by using a pivot system attached to the concrete foundation that is needed for the tower to stand on. This way if the unit ever needs servicing you can get it down without paying for heavy equipment.
Wind turbines come in a variety of sizes to meet your needs from 1.2kw up to 100kw. Wind turbines are designed to operate with a minimum wind force of 5 mph up to 35 mph. When the wind speed exceeds 35 mph, the turbine either brakes to slow down and lock the rotor or goes into a free spin and the blades are turned to let the wind blow through without spinning the rotor. The cost of wind power vs solar power is a bit higher per watt, however, if you don’t have the ideal conditions for solar, then a wind turbine may be your best alternative.
