AE 3.0 Wind 5 kW
The modern era of wind power began in the late 1970’s, but it wasn’t until recent years that it has seen such a rise in popularity. Small scale wind turbines are more reliable today than in the 1980s when many rural customers were installing them on their farms. In turn, we have seen an increased demand for the small scale wind turbine, making the turbines more affordable. Although more affordable, the installation doesn’t come without some challenges.
When looking to install a turbine, it can be a fairly daunting task to determine which wind resource maps are accurate, what local regulations are, and which organization has the most up-to-date information. If determining the estimated output of the location wasn’t enough, consumers must also take into account insurance cost increases, wind turbulence, zoning issues and interconnection fees and tariffs. As noted above, costs associated with some of these items vary throughout the country. A significant additional cost for a wind turbine installation versus a photovoltaic installation is the maintenance cost. Turbines require maintenance to ensure continued reliability and performance.