What is a Small Wind Turbine?

 

There are three classes of wind turbines:

  1.  Small Wind Turbines. There are defined as being of 100 Kw output or less. These Small Wind Energy Systems (SWES) are required to be used primarily to produce power for on-site consumption.
  2.  Mid-size Wind Turbines. These are defined as being in the 100Kw - 30 Mw range and are intended to power green-energy community developments, for example.
  3.  Utility-scale Wind Turbines. There are systems above 30 Mw in capacity and are primarily intended for supplying power to the national grid.

 

ÒSmallÓ Wind Turbines, as defined by the industry can, in fact, have rotor diameters twice the size of a house.

 

 

 

Utility-scale Wind Turbines can reach over 300 feet in height with rotor diameters of 150 feet. They are intended for use in Òwind farmsÓ situated in unpopulated regions and in off-shore sites where wind conditions are favorable.

 

The Skystream 3.7 is a 2.4 Kw unit typical of those designed for residences. Tower height ranges from 34 to 70 feet, rotor diameter is 12 feet.

 

Links to Small Wind Turbine descriptions

0.4 Kw unit from Southwest Windpower (3.8 ft rotor dia. – 45 foot tower).

0.9 Kw unit from Southwest Windpower (7 ft rotor dia.).

1.0 Kw unit from Southwest Windpower (9 ft rotor dia.).

2.4 Kw unit from Southwest Windpower (12 ft rotor dia. – 34-70 foot towers).

3.0 Kw unit from Southwest Windpower (15 ft rotor dia.).

 

 5 Kw unit from REDriven (10.5 ft rotor dia. – 30 foot tower).

10 Kw unit from REDriven (26 ft rotor dia. – 52 foot tower).

20 Kw unit from REDriven (37 ft rotor dia. – 60 foot tower).

 

 5 Kw unit from Bergey (8.2 foot rotor dia.).

10 Kw unit from Bergey (22 foot rotor dia.).

 

35 Kw unit from Energie PGE (63 foot rotor dia.).

50 Kw unit from Entegrity Wind Systems (49 foot rotor dia.).

100 Kw unit from Northern Power Systems (69 ft rotor dia. – 121 foot tower)

 

 

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