Guide · Wind
Wind Turbine Calculator & Guide
Harness the power of the wind. Calculate potential, choose the right turbine, and achieve energy independence.
Is Wind Power Right for You?
Wind energy is a powerful complement to solar, especially in winter or stormy weather. However, it requires specific site conditions—consistent wind speeds of at least 4–5 m/s (9–11 mph).
Pros
- Generates power at night
- Works in storms/cloudy weather
- High output per square foot
- Compliments solar perfectly
Cons
- Requires consistent wind
- Moving parts (maintenance)
- Noise considerations
- Height requirements (zoning)
Calculate Your Wind Potential
Our advanced calculator uses historical weather data for your exact location to estimate wind energy potential.
Wind Turbine Types (At a Glance)
If you want everything in one place: horizontal-axis vs vertical-axis, plus where “underwater turbines” actually fit.
Quick comparison
| Type | Best for | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAWT (horizontal-axis) | Most real power output (clean wind + tall tower) | Best efficiency; proven designs. | Needs height and good siting; tower cost dominates. |
| VAWT (vertical-axis) | Demonstrations and niche turbulent sites | Takes wind from any direction; often simpler yawing. | Usually lower real-world output per rated watt. |
| Airborne wind (kite systems) | Experimental / emerging tech | Access higher-altitude winds. | Complex control and permitting; not common for DIY. |
| Hydrokinetic (underwater) | Moving water, not wind | Runs 24/7 if flow is consistent. | Different resource; see Micro-Hydro. |
| Archimedes Spiral (Liam F1) | Urban/Turbulent wind areas | Silent, captures wind at 60° angles, high efficiency. | Newer tech, harder to source DIY parts, expensive. |
Why wind speed matters so much
Power in the wind scales with the cube of wind speed (v³). This chart shows relative power in the wind compared to 3 m/s.
Wind speed is in m/s. This is not turbine output; it’s the energy available in the wind.
Videos worth watching
Scoraig wind turbine workshop 2010
Hands-on workshop footage: blades, alternator concepts, and practical build context.
Scoraig wind turbine Workshop 2012
More workshop coverage for DIY-scale turbines and real-world constraints.
Raising a Wind Turbine Tower (short)
Quick visual of tower raising mechanics and why towers are a major part of wind.
Hugh Piggott (Scoraig Wind) channel
A strong library of small wind + micro-hydro content from a long-time practitioner.
Installation Basics
- Siting: Turbines need clean wind. Rule of thumb: rotor should be ~10 m above any obstacle within ~100 m (30 ft above within 300 ft).
- Tower: The most expensive part. Guyed towers are cheaper but require more space. Monopoles look cleaner but cost more.
- Wiring: Run heavy gauge wire to minimize voltage drop from the tower to your battery bank.
- Diversion Load: Essential safety feature. When batteries are full, excess power must be dumped to a heater or resistor to prevent turbine over-speeding.