How many houses can power a wind turbine?
Renewable energy is a very hot topic, and wind turbines are an increasingly cheap and popular source of energy. Although it is not possible for a single wind turbine to power an entire city, it can certainly provide electricity to several homes. But how many homes can a wind turbine power? Let’s find out.
How are power production and consumption measured?
They are measured in watts. The Watt (W) is the standard unit of measurement of power in the International System of Units. It is named after James Watt, the Scottish engineer who played a key role in the development of the steam engine. One Watt is equivalent to one joule per second, which is a measure of the rate at which energy is used. In electrical terms, a Watt is the power required to do work at the rate of one joule per second. It is a small unit of power measurement and is commonly used to express the power consumption of devices such as light bulbs, household appliances and electronic devices.
The megawatt (MW) is a unit of power equal to one million watts, or 1,000,000 watts. Megawatts are typically used to measure the power delivered by large electrical devices and systems, such as power plants, industrial machinery. And, of course, large wind turbines as well.
To clarify:
1 Watt = 0.000001 Megawatt
1 megawatt = 1,000,000 watts
The average household consumption
In the United States, an average household consumes about 867 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month. In Europe consumption is slightly lower, about 250-450 kWh per month. A typical small wind turbine with a capacity of 5 kilowatts (kW) can generate about 10,000 kWh per year. This is enough to power two households with moderate electricity consumption. A larger turbine with a capacity of 15-20 kilowatts (kW) can generate about 40,000 kWh per year, which can power about six households.
Now, to answer the initial question, a difference must be made between huge wind turbines and those that are mounted on the roof of an ordinary house.
The big wind turbine power…
In terms of big wind turbines, the current industry-standard model is around 3-5 MW, but there are bigger models in development. For example, GE has recently unveiled its Haliade-X, a 12 MW offshore wind turbine that is currently the world’s most powerful. One of these giants can produce enough energy to power up to 16,000 homes. To put that into perspective, one Haliade-X turbine has the capacity to produce 67 GWh, which is enough energy to power over 5 million LED lightbulbs for a whole day.
…And the home wind turbines
There are two types of home wind turbines: horizontal-axis and vertical-axis. Horizontal-axis turbines are the most common, with three blades rotating around a horizontal axis. Vertical-axis turbines, on the other hand, have blades that rotate around a vertical axis. They are suitable for low-wind areas with turbulent winds. The power of a wind turbine is directly proportional to its size and wind speed. See the detailed article on wind turbine efficiency.
Regardless of the type of turbine axis, power production starts from 400W at a cost of $350 to $400. On the other hand, the maximum power for a turbine that can be easily installed at home is about 6000W. Read about the most convenient home kits.
Wind turbine power: considerations
It is important to note that wind turbines do not generate electricity all day long. Their output also depends on wind speed. As a result, wind turbines operate on average at 30 percent capacity. That is, they produce electricity about 30 percent of the time. This variability in power generation means that wind turbines cannot be relied upon to provide power continuously. Obviously they need to be supplemented with other power sources.
Despite their limitations, wind turbines remain a valuable source of renewable energy that can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate climate change.
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