Small wind turbine

Diagram of a small wind turbine and repeller.
A 1 kW micro windmill installed in the suburbs of Lahore, Pakistan.
Small wind turbine power output
Small wind turbine power output

Small wind turbines, also known as micro wind turbines or urban wind turbines, are wind turbines that generate electricity for small-scale use. These turbines are typically smaller than those found in wind farms. Small wind turbines often have passive yaw systems as opposed to active ones. They use a direct drive generator and use a tail fin to point into the wind, whereas larger turbines have geared powertrains that are actively pointed into the wind.

They usually produce between 500 W and 10 kW, with some as small as 50 W. The Canadian Wind Energy Association considers small wind turbines to be up to 300 kW,[1] while the IEC 61400 standard defines them as having a rotor area smaller than 200 m2 and generating voltage below 1000 Va.c. or 1500 Vd.c.

  1. ^ Small Wind Turbine Purchasing Guide (PDF) (Report). Canadian Wind Energy Association. pp. 3–4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2016.