This wind turbine class is at the top end of the midsize machines and is well suited for communities and very large onsite industrial loads and can even form the basis of small wind farms in certain situations. Large Commercial or Industrial Energy Use (500 kW-1.5 MW) These projects require experienced and detailed project modeling using onsite or nearby wind resource data. It is not unusual for facility managers to partner with financial players while developing projects of this size. These turbines often represent a substantial capital investment and thus require corporate or institutional approvals. This wind turbine class shares many technical and operational attributes of utility-scale machines and is often installed on towers that require special permits and coordination with other regulatory organizations or agencies. This wind turbine class produces commercial quantities of power and can be well matched with campuses, larger facilities, communities, and larger municipal public loads.
Projects of this size may also trigger the need for onsite resource assessment, but often projects can move forward by using nearby measurements and experienced siting and project modeling. This class of machine can cost as much as a house and is the smallest project size that might be financed, which would require a lender review. These turbines, however, typically require less maintenance than larger machines. This turbine class typically incorporates a higher level of machine sophistication, resulting in greater efficiency and power production but also requiring increased maintenance.
This class of wind turbine produces more power than the average house consumes but can be well suited for small businesses farms ranches facilities such as schools, office buildings, or part of a campus or a public load such as a hospital. Small Commercial-Scale Onsite Energy Use (10-50 kW) Residential-scale wind turbines typically do not warrant a detailed onsite resource assessment. Many states provide incentives for this class of machine. These wind turbines are purchased with cash, so while return on investment can be important to consider, it is not always the deciding factor of whether a project goes forward. Because these turbines are generally installed on shorter towers, you need to get a site evaluation in order to determine where to site the project to ensure it will perform as designed. Residential, small turbines produce about as much energy as a home requires. Residential-Scale Onsite Energy Use (<10 kW) Regardless of project size, projects connected to the electrical grid will require utility approvals and may require grid impact studies before construction can begin. Utility-scale machines that maximize generation for the site infrastructure footprint and cost are best suited for utility-scale projects. Midsize machines can produce enough energy to match larger commercial onsite loads. Residential onsite energy use requires a small turbine (typically less than 10 kilowatts (kW)) that can generate the amount of power that the home requires for daily operation. Wind turbine economics are maximized when the project size is designed to match the energy needs of the load while also monetizing economies of scale and equipment track record. The energy needs will determine the size of the turbine. Wind turbines can provide energy for onsite use as well as for export for sale. You can learn how wind turbines make electricity and see an illustration of the components inside a wind turbine, or view a wind power animation that shows how moving air rotates a wind turbine’s blades and how the internal components work to produce electricity. This mechanical power can be used for specific tasks (such as grinding grain or pumping water), or can be converted into electricity by a generator. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power. Wind power or wind energy describes the process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity. View the wind turbine animation to see how a wind turbine works or take a look inside. The electricity is sent through transmission and distribution lines to homes, businesses, schools, and so on. This aerial view of a wind turbine plant shows how a group of wind turbines can make electricity for the utility grid.