Wind Energy Voice

What Should The Wind Speeds Be For Your Wind Turbine?

There are many different types of wind turbine models people would be able to use for their home. But, not all of them would be ideal for each residence since wind speed differs depending on where you live. There are several places on the web that will show what the average wind speeds are for different areas all over the United States. This article will go over the many types of wind turbines designs that work best in high to low wind speed locations.

First, to get the best results from the wind a wind mill ought to be located in a location where there is a consistent wind speed of 12 mph. If you live in an area that has wind speeds between 12-20 mph you’re in business to get great results from your home wind turbine! There must be a 7-10 mph wind speed at least for a horizontal axis wind turbine before power starts being created. Now you can see how crucial it is to know what your average wind speed is in your area if you want to get any use out of your windmill.

Now as many know the higher you go up in the air the more wind there tends to be. So what is the right height to be able to take full advantage of the wind in your area? First, you should find out whether you can put in a horizontal or vertical axis wind mill at your residence. Once you have decided which one to go with then you will have a better understanding of which wind mill design will work for your home. If you have a vertical axis wind mill you can start producing power with as little as 6 mph wind speed. That is great for a location where the wind speed is weak.  Horizontal axis windmills ought to be placed where there aren’t any obstructions within 300 feet. This is tough for a lot of places so the other solution would be to have the windmill created to sit higher up over any barriers. Furthermore, if the height of the tower is increased by 60-100 feet the cost will increase by 10% but the energy produced will increase by 29%! Now that is a huge difference in the amount of energy created.

There are great resources online if you are trying to learn on how to build a windmill. The most important thing to know is which wind turbine design is best for your home. If you are in an area where other homes surround you or different structures are by you it might be best to have a vertical axis windmill. But, if your location is in an open area the horizontal axis windmill would be a great addition for your home.