Comments on: How many homes can one wind turbine power in a year?

By: gatorbait

gatorbait — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:16:11 +0000

The output of a wind turbine depends on the turbine’s size and the wind’s speed through the rotor. Wind turbines being manufactured now have power ratings ranging from about 250 watts to 5 megawatts (MW).

A 10-kW wind turbine can generate about 10,000 kWh annually at a site with wind speeds averaging 12 miles per hour, or about enough to power a typical household. A 5-MW turbine can produce more than 15 million kWh in a year–enough to power more than 1, 400 households. The average U.S. household consumes about 10,000 kWh of electricity each year.

By: billrussell42

billrussell42 — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:27:14 +0000

Depends on the size of the wind turbine. The largest is 6 MW.

Average home uses 1 kW. If you assume that wind is present 50% of the time, than the 6 MW turbine produces on the average 3MW.

3 MW / 1 kW = 3000 homes.

1 year has nothing to do with it.

By: dk

dk — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:43:31 +0000

The amount power a wind turbine is capable of putting out depends on the size (power rating) of of the machine as is the case with any other generator. The type of the machine installed on the turbine will also determine if the turbine can provide stand alone power. These power system questions usually depend a lot on design specs.
However there are wind turbines that can definitely power many homes. As you rightfully mentioned wind is not constant, and hence wind power may not be very reliable. However the technology is advancing which will improve reliability. It makes a lot of sense to install wind farms.