Small Wind Turbines

Small wind turbines are those with capacities of less than 100 kW—or 10 kW under some classifications. These might be used for off-grid generation for single domestic dwellings or as a distributed generation source for a community or small commercial unit. Smaller units may often be coupled with battery storage systems to provide continuous power. Small wind turbines are much more diverse than their larger relatives with many vertical axis machines available as well as horizontal axis turbines with more than three blades. These often use passive, downwind yaw control for simplicity. The turbines are often mounted on masts stabilized with guy ropes, small lattice towers, or space frame towers. Generators for small wind turbines are often simpler too, with both induction generators and permanent magnet direct current generators in use. Small wind turbines can operate with lower average wind speeds than larger units. However, small wind turbine siting is important for economical operation.