A

David

Darling

small wind turbine annual energy output

small wind turbine

An estimate of the annual energy output from a wind turbine (in kilowatt-hours per year) is the best way to determine whether it and the tower will produce enough electricity to meet your needs.

 

A wind turbine manufacturer can help you estimate the energy production you can expect. They will use a calculation based on these factors:

 

  • Particular wind turbine power curve
  • Average annual wind speed at your site
  • Height of the tower that you plan to use
  • Frequency distribution of the wind – an estimate of the number of hours that the wind will blow at each speed during an average year.
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    The manufacturer should also adjust this calculation for the elevation of your site. To get a preliminary estimate of the performance of a particular wind turbine, you can use the following formula:

     

    AEO = 0.01328 D V

     

    Where:

     

  • AEO = Annual energy output (kilowatt-hours [kWh]/year)
  • D = Rotor diameter, feet
  • V = Annual average wind speed, miles-per hour (mph), at your site
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    Note: the difference between power and energy is that power (kilowatts [kW]) is the rate at which electricity is consumed, while energy (kilowatt-hours [kWh]) is the quantity consumed.