
How Much Do Wind Turbines Cost?
Although they were first introduced about 100 years ago, electricity-generating wind turbines continue to improve steadily in terms of effectiveness a...
Although they were first introduced about 100 years ago, electricity-generating wind turbines continue to improve steadily in terms of effectiveness and versatility. Despite being better in every measurable way, they’re now also more affordable than ever. Each basic type of wind turbine, of which there are several, has its own specific attributes and is suited to certain situations.
One variety of wind generator that has improved significantly in recent years is the large-scale commercial-use turbine. Enhanced blade design, more durable materials, and more effective and consistent production are a few of the areas in which they’ve gotten better. This type of wind turbine is different from residential-use turbines in that it’s constructed from stronger and heavier materials, as it’s usually intended to handle higher winds.
For that same reason, wind turbines of this type are usually located in areas that receive the highest winds, such as shorelines. This makes reliability the most important thing for these units, as their out-of-the-way locations make constant repairs a no-go. Commercial turbines often exceed $100,000 in price, which is due in large part to these factors.
Wind turbines for use in a residential environment are basically smaller versions of those larger, commercial units. The most common difficulty suffered by the first generation of residential-use wind turbines was that they couldn’t adjust smoothly to shifting wind patterns, which are particularly common amid the buildings and other obstacles in a residential setting.
Weight was another concern for early units. They would usually require special support structures, and they could only really generate much power from very high winds. Most homeowners found these early models too costly and limited in function to be appropriate for them.
The latest class of residential-use turbine to be introduced is called the micro turbine. Micro turbines are designed to generate power even from lower-speed winds, meaning that it’s not required to have them mounted on a support structure. In some cases, it’s actually possible to mount a micro turbine directly on your roof. Even though small units like these aren’t able to output the same amount of power as commerical turbines, they make up for this by working at all times. Starting at approximately $600, micro turbines can be repaid in relatively short order thanks to the savings they generate on electrical bills
The cost of a wind turbine is generally contingent upon factors like size and capacity. By building your own wind turbine, you can bring the cost down even more. The free, permanent electricity and corresponding savings that come with a wind turbine make this a worthwhile project for anyone.
For information about the pros and cons of wind power, readAdvantages and Disadvantages of Wind Power.
If you are looking for a guide to building your own wind turbine, check out Earth4Enegry Review.
For another guide to building a diy solar panel, visit How to Build a Wind Turbine.