Wind turbines

Wind Turbines capture wind energy and convert this to electrical energy, and is capable of producing electricity at any time of the day or night.

Turbines need consistent (non-erratic) wind speeds of at least 12 metres per second (on average) to be a worthwhile investment. In order to assess the viability of purchasing a turbine, we recommend setting up an anemometer to get site-specific data over a 12-month period (to get your seasonal averages).

For optimal conditions, the turbine needs to be placed 10m above the nearest object, although councils usually have maximum height restrictions and minimum distance requirements from the property boundary. You will need to contact your local council to find out their exact requirements.

A wind turbine will cost upwards of $20,000 (depending on turbine capacity, tower type, site grounds works, etc). We definitely don’t recommend getting a cheaply manufactured turbine online, as these will only cause you frustrations.

Please Note: Off-Grid Energy no longer sells wind turbines. The information on this page is for educational purposes only.

Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbine

Horizontal-axis turbines have a horizontally orientated motor shaft and electrical motor positioned at the top of a tower. The more common upwind versions utilise a simple wind vane in order to orientate the blades towards the changing wind direction. Horizontal-axis turbines have higher wind to power conversion efficiency and higher mounting allows access greater wind speeds.

Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine

Vertical-axis turbines have a vertically orientated motor shaft and blade structure, with the gear-box and electrical generator are normally positioned near the base of the shaft. These omni-directional turbines effectively capture different prevailing winds without overly stressing the support and are easier to service due to their lower mounting height. Low starting torque and greater blade fatigue lead to a higher failure rate compared to horizontal-axis turbines.