Free-standing wind turbines are a considerably more effective solution for individuals who are serious about harnessing wind as a source of renewable energy for a local power supply. In addition, they are more expensive to install.
The cost is determined by the size of the project and the expected outcome. Depending on your location and wind speeds, a 1.5 kW turbine would cost between $8,000 and $12,000 and produce around 2,600 kW per year. A larger array with a 15 kW capacity would cost around $100,000 and produce around 36,000 kW of energy over the course of a year.
You must also consider the cost of maintenance and the price that must be paid if you need to apply for planning clearance for any wind turbine installation. A wind turbine is designed to last for 20 to 25 years, but batteries and the inverter that converts your DC current to AC may need to be replaced before that time.
What is the price of a 10 kW wind turbine?
Bergey invented the radically basic “Bergey design” thirty years ago, and it has shown to deliver some of the highest reliability, performance, service life, and value among the hundreds of competing products that have come and gone since then. The Bergey 10 kW boasts a service record that no other wind turbine can match, with only three moving parts and no need for periodic maintenance. They back it up with the industry’s longest warranty.
How do they work?
Wind energy is collected and converted into power by the wind turbine, which is positioned on top of a tall tower. After that, the turbine output is made electrically compatible with the utility and fed into the domestic wiring at the breaker panel.
The wind turbine and the utility both provide power to the house at the same time. There will be no output from the wind turbine if the wind speed is less than 7 mph, and all of the needed power will be purchased from the utility. The turbine output grows as the wind speed increases, and the amount of power purchased from the utility decreases accordingly. When the turbine produces more electricity than the house requires, the excess is sold to the utility. All of this happens on its own. In a modern domestic wind system, there are no batteries.
Your utility cost will often be reduced by 50-90 percent when you install a wind turbine. For a portion of the year, homeowners with fully electric homes with Bergey turbines can expect monthly power bills of $8-$15. Bills can be very cheap all year in northern sections of the country, when less air conditioning is used.
What size would I need for my home?
Electricity use in homes ranges from 1,000 to 2,000 kilowatt-hours per month. Depending on the typical wind speed in the area, a wind turbine rated between 5 and 15 kilowatts will be required. The BWC EXCEL-S, Bergey’s 10 kW unit, is the best-selling home unit in the United States. It has a 23-foot rotor diameter and is commonly mounted on 80- or 100-foot towers.
Who should consider buying one?
A wind turbine is a huge equipment that is not ideal for homes in cities or on tiny lots in the suburbs. They recommend a one-acre or larger site. The typical wind speed in the area, the availability of rebates or tax credits, and the cost of power all influence the economics of a wind system. Bergey recommends having at least a 10 mph average wind speed and spending $10/kilowatt-hour or more for power as a general rule of thumb. They provide wind resource maps for the entire United States and can give you information about your own wind resource. In all 50 states, residential wind turbines have been installed.
Will installing a wind turbine at my property benefit the environment? Wind turbines do not pollute the environment, and by using wind electricity, you will be balancing pollution caused by your utility provider. A BWC EXCEL will counteract roughly 1.2 tons of air pollutants and 200 tons of greenhouse emissions over its 30-year lifespan.
How much do they cost?
Installing a 10 kW wind turbine costs between $48,000 and $65,000. The equipment costs around $40,000 (see 10 kW GridTek System), with shipment and installation costing the remainder. Guyed towers are more expensive than towers without guy wires.
How are they as an investment?
This is dependent on your electricity costs and typical wind speed. Within 6-30 years, the wind system will typically return its cost through utility savings, and the electricity it generates will be nearly free. In comparison to utility power, a wind system might be a beneficial investment because your money goes toward improving the value of your property rather than merely paying for a service. Many people acquire wind turbines as a retirement investment because they are concerned about rising utility rates.
How would I proceed to have a wind turbine installed at my home?
You have two options: engage with a Bergey approved dealer for a complete turnkey installation or purchase directly from the factory and install the unit yourself. The first option needs less effort on your behalf and provides better after-sales service. The option of self-installation saves a lot of money.
They recommend Paul Gipe’s book “Wind Power for Home and Business,” Chelsea Green Publishing, White River Junction, VT, for a complete reference book on tiny wind.
What does a 20-kilowatt wind turbine cost?
Wind turbines are not inexpensive as an alternative energy source. Massive wind turbines can cost tens of millions of dollars. When you consider that a 15kw wind turbine might cost up to $125,000, you can infer that a 20kw wind turbine will cost even more. It’s safe to assume that it’ll set you back more than $125,000.
How much does a wind turbine cost on average?
Because the average wind turbine has a power output of 2-3 MW, most turbines cost between $2 and $4 million. According to research on wind turbine operational costs, operation and maintenance costs an additional $42,000-$48,000 per year.
Is it possible for a wind turbine to pay for itself?
A wind turbine will normally pay for itself in a few years, but it will be expensive up front. Find out about federal energy subsidies and other financial incentives for those who want to invest in wind energy.
What will a wind turbine cost in 2020?
Wind turbine prices have dropped dramatically from a decade ago, from $1,800 per kilowatt (kW) in 2008 to $770$850 per kilowatt (kW) now. The value of the health and climate advantages of wind energy built in 2020 was estimated to be $76 per MWh, significantly more than the cost of wind energy.
What is the output of a 15kW solar system?
SunWatts offers a large selection of low-cost 15 kW PV systems. Solar panels, DC-to-AC inverter, rack mounting system, hardware, cabling, permit plans, and instructions are included in these 15 kW grid-connected solar kits. These are comprehensive PV solar power systems that can be used for either a home or a business, and include almost everything you’ll need to get the system up and operating quickly. The prices listed are simply for the hardware components; click on any kit to add full-service installation for rooftop or ground mount.
A 15kW Solar Kit will take up to 1,200 square feet. 15kW, or 15 kilowatts, is a DC direct current power output of 15,000 watts. With at least 5 sun hours per day and the solar array oriented south, this might create 1,000 to 2,500 kilowatt hours (kWh) of alternating current (AC) power each month. For greatest solar power, an unobstructed south-facing view of the sun will yield the highest production. The amount of power generated depends on the location, equipment, and installation. Compare how much power these low-cost 15kW PV systems can generate to the actual kWh used each month on your electric utility bill.
How much does it cost to have a wind turbine installed at your home?
Installing a wind turbine to supply electricity for your home costs around $2,000 on average. However, prices vary based on the type of turbine and amount of wind energy required. A microturbine can cost as little as $100 or as much as $80,000 to power a large home.
