Written on April 30, 2010 at 4:59 am by buildwindgenerator

How much does it cost to put up a wind power-generator? How much energy do they provide?

Filed under Build Wind Power 4 comments 4 Comments Post a Comment

1. looey323 says:

   April 30, 2010 at 4:59 am

   A lot. I have heard between $25K and $50K, depending on size and if you want to sell any extra back to your power company. But that is hearsay. I do know they are big for any power level, and rather non-cosmetically-enhancing to a property.

   And you have to remember the wind generators only start to work above a certain breeze level, and produce virtually no power at that wind level.

   Now if you are blessed with 50 MPH gales 24/7/365 you will have reliable power. If you are like here, with occasional days of moderate winds, maybe 20 mph, and some of weak but gusty winds to maybe 10 mph, the generator will generate only small amounts of power.

   Power varies as the square of the wind, I have read. So a 50 KW generator at 50 mph makes only 12.5 KW at 25 mph, and at 12.5 mph only 3.125 KW…not a lot these days, and a 3 mph breeze like we often have out here in the summer wold be producing only ’bout 200 watts…maybe 3 light bulbs.

   Right now the wind is nice and calm, and so right now I would be in total darkness relieved only by my neighbor’s area light…cloudy so not even stars.

   And I would not be writing this at all. My computer would be down!

   My local power cooperative did study on their own wind station, set up in a pass with lots of wind, and found it seldom made full capacity, and averaged only about some 20% of capacity in a really good location.

   Wind power for your home? Unless you got really strong winds all the time, I would say don’t throw away your electric meter! and have a deep wallet!
2. ScottB says:

   April 30, 2010 at 4:59 am

   Here is a good page talking about the cost and power produced. It looks like they are around $12,000. Power varies depending on wind.
3. ~brigit~ says:

   April 30, 2010 at 4:59 am

   Installed, a complete grid-interconnected, 10-kW wind turbine costs between $40,000 and $50,000 and will produce between 800 and 2,000 kWh per month (depending on the wind resource).

   As a rule of thumb, wind power systems tend to be cost effective in areas in which the average wind speed is 10 mph or greater and utility costs are more than $0.10 per kWh.
4. tommybear45 says:

   April 30, 2010 at 4:59 am

   i saw similar fans that did that same principle underwater in some river on Sundance’s The Green, it was Cool!!!! i changed all our light bulbs & saved HALF on my next month’s light bill!!!!