Wind turbines are being used more and more as an alternative form of electricity. In some extremely rural areas, they are even used as the only form of electricity, because commercial power is too
costly to bring in. Although most modern wind
turbines are 3-bladed and on land, in some places
they are found off-shore, or in new designs such
as the Darrieus wind turbine. Although the
Darrieus design is supposed to be just as
efficient as the blade design commonly seen,
it is rarely used because of its vulnerability to high speed winds, and inconsistent start-ups.

Small sized wind turbines are the size generally used by homeowners. They are capable of producing 500-1000w, and vary greatly in price, ranging between $6,000-22,000. Larger turbines also have a relatively light start up speed of about 7-15 MPH. Some are even as low as 4MPH, though those generally have a lower stop speed as well, of about 25 MPH. The stop speed is the speed in which the wind turbine stops spinning in order to protect it from harsh winds. They are also very efficient, some capable of producing enough energy to power a typical home with only about 12 MPH average wind speeds. They are also sturdier and able to handle very windy climates of up to about 140 MPH.

Smaller wind turbines that are capable of producing less than 500 watts, with some producing as little as 60 watts, cost from $700-1,500 on average. Smaller turbines are generally used for covering the cost of a few appliances in the home, or helping to operate small motor boats. They are designed for winds 15-30 MPH, and therefore are not recommended for people who live in very windy areas, such as Worcester, MA. They are ideal for people who live in areas that do not have very windy climates, as the start up speed is usually very low, around 5MPH.

A wind turbine farm off the coast of Denmark.
Picture provided by http://www.thinkquest.org/library

So, where can these turbines be purchased from? Here is a list of some of the largest manufacturers:

Vestas
The world’s largest manufacturer, located in Denmark.

General Electric
Located in the United States.

SkyStream
Located in the United States, has many distributors.

Suzlon
Largest manufacturers in Asia, located in India.

For an alphabetical list of manufacturers found in the United States, please go to Sourceguides.com.

If this price seems too steep for you, read on to find out how to make your own wind generator for the reasonable price of $150.