industry.gov.au(http://www.industry.gov.

au/)

SearchYourHome
(/)

Windsystems

Windsystems
(/sites/prod.yourhome.gov.au/files/pdf/YOURHOME
4Energy10
WindSystems
(4Dec13).pdf) [PDF4.5MB]

Windsystems
Theamountofrenewableelectricityharnessedfromthewindis
growingrapidly.Australiahasanabundantwindresource,which,
ifusedtogenerateelectricity,couldsavesignificantgreenhouse
gasemissions.Totakeadvantageofthisresource,turbinesmust
beinstalledinopensitesonsufficientlytalltowers.

Appropriatewindsystemlocations
Begininvestigatingwindtechnologybyrealitycheckingyour
generallocation.Windgeneratorsneedcleanandsufficientlyfast
windtoproduceelectricity.Cleanwindisstrongandlaminar,
whichmeansitflowsinsmoothstreamlinesandisnotdisrupted
bynearbyobstacles.

Coastallocations,andflatruralareaswithoutsignificant
vegetationorbuildings,offerthemostlaminarwindflow.Small
windsystemsshouldgenerallybeinstalledonlyintheseareas.
Significantturbulenceiscausedbyterrainsuchassteephillsand
cliffsaswellasgroundcluttersuchastreesandnearbybuildings
orstructures.
Urbanareashaveapoorwindresourcethatisusuallyextremely
turbulent.Productivewindpowersystemsplacethewind
generatorontalltowersincleanwind,wellaboveareasof
turbulencecausedbyobstructionsusuallyimpossibleinurban
areas.
Urbanareashaveapoorwindresourcethatisusuallyextremely
turbulent.
Windsystemsinstalledonroofstypicallydonotproducemuch
electricity,haveshortlifespansandarethusnevereconomically
sound.Bewaryofturbineinstallersormanufacturersclaiming
productsaresuitableforurbanorturbulentlocations,andalways
prioritisesolarphotovoltaicsifinvestigatingresidentialrenewable
electricityoptionsinurbanareas.Ensureyourinstalleriscertified
bycheckingtheCleanEnergyCouncillistofCertifiedSmallWind
Installers(http://www.solaraccreditation.com.au/consumers/findaninstaller.html) at
www.solaraccreditation.com.au(http://www.solaraccreditation.com.au/)

Connectingwindsystems
Smallwindturbinescanbeconnectedas:
gridconnected,nobatterystorage

offgridorindependentstandalonepowersystems
gridconnected,withbatterystorage.
Agridconnectedsystemallowsthewindsystemownertosend
electricitybacktothegridwhenexcesselectricityisproduced,
anddrawelectricityfromthegridwhenmoreisneeded.
Standalonepowersystemsaremostpracticableinlocationsthat
aresomedistancefromtheelectricitynetwork.Theytypicallyuse
morethanonetechnologytogenerateelectricity,suchaswind
andsolarphotovoltaicscombined,totakefulladvantageof
seasonalanddailyvariationsinwindandsolarresources.

Photo:AUSWEAandUniversityofNewcastle
Adomesticwindturbine.
Agridconnectedwindpowersystemwithbatterystorageis
currentlyuncommonitismostpracticablewhenanuninterruptible
powersupplyisrequired.

Determiningyourwindfuelorresource

Ifyoursiteseemssuitable,quantifyyourwindresource,usually
withthehelpofawindsiteassessororinstaller,toestimatehow
muchenergyawindturbinewillproduceatyoursite.
InallareasofAustraliathewindvarieswiththeseasons,and
manylocationshavestrongerwindsinwinter.Manycoastal
regionsoftenhaveseabreezesastheirprevailingwindsin
summer.
Determiningtheaverageannualwindspeed(typicallymeasured
inmetres/second)atyoursitemaybechallenging,although
severalstategovernmentprogramsaredevelopingtoolstohelp
estimatewindresources.Whenestimatingtheoutputofawind
systematyoursite,windsiteassessorsorinstallersshoulduse:
multiplewindspeeddatasources(e.g.windmapsor
modelling,automaticweatherstations,nearbymonitoring
sites)togeneratearobustunderstandingofwindpatternsat
thesite
topographymapsandasitevisittoestimatewindshear(the
rateatwhichthewindspeedchangeswithincreasingheight
fromtheground)
theproximityoftrees,buildingsandotherobstaclesto
estimateturbulenceintensity
thepowercurveofthewindsystem,obtainedfromthe
manufacturer,whichshowstheexpectedpoweroutputof
theturbineinanygivenwindspeed.

Source:www.endurancewindpower.com
(http://www.endurancewindpower.com/)

Thepowercurveforthisparticularturbineshowsapoweroutput
of500Watawindspeedof5m/sand4,900W(4.9kW)at10m/s.
Offgridsmallwindsystemsusuallyrequireaminimumaverage
annualwindspeedofatleast45m/stobecosteffectiveforgrid
connectedsystemstheannualaverageshouldbegreaterthan
6m/s.
Automaticweatherstationstypicallymonitorwindspeedsat10m
abovegroundlevelwindmodelstypicallyestimatewindspeeds
atheightsof5080m.Notetheheightatwhichannualwindspeed

dataissourced,becauseifitisnotexactlythesameastheheight
ofyourtower,thewindsiteassessormustestimatethewind
speedatyourtowerheight.
Forexample,asitewith5m/saverageannualwindspeedata
heightof30mmayonlyhave3m/saveragewindspeedata
heightof12m.Inthiscase,awindsystemplacedona12mtower
producesnegligibleelectricitythesamesystemona30mtower
producesatleasttentimesmoreelectricity.

Source:www.endurancewindpower.com
(http://www.endurancewindpower.com/)

Thisturbineproducesaround5,000kWh/yearwithanaverage
annualwindspeedof4m/soraround15,000kWh/yearat6m/s.
Tallertowersandgoodsitingallowwindsystemstoaccessfaster
windspeeds.
Manufacturersshouldstatethecutinwindspeedoftheturbine,
thespeedatwhichthewindgeneratorbeginstoturnand
generatepower.Inareaswithfrequentlightwinds,alowcutin
speedisimportantformaximumoutput.
Prioritisesitesonelevated,openlandwherewindsare
unimpededbytreesandbuildings.Thatswherewindturbines
generatethemostenergy.
Sitesonelevated,openlandwherewindsareunimpededbytrees
andbuildings,shouldbeprioritised,asthisiswherewindturbines
generatethemostenergy.
Siteturbinesawayfromturbulentwindscausedbyanyobstacles,
ifpossible.Incaseswherewindsystemscannotbesitedaway
fromobstacles,anappropriatelytalltoweriscritical.

Determiningappropriatetowerheights
Themostcommonmistakeforsmallwindsystemsisputtinga
windgeneratorontooshortatower.Itstheequivalentofputtinga
solarcollectorintheshade.
Avoidmakingthiscommonmistakebyunderstandingoutputand
siteconditions,andaskingtherightquestionsoftheinstaller.

Outputfromawindgeneratoristiedtothespeedofthewindina
cubicrelationshipi.e.doublingthespeedavailabletoawind
systemincreasesthepoweravailablebyeighttimes.Talltowers
thataccessfasterwindspeedscanreaplargerrewards.
Windspeedincreases,andturbulencedecreases,withheight.
Belowtheheightof20mthefrictionbetweenwindandearthslows
thewindspeedsignificantly.Thiszoneisalsooftenveryturbulent.
Installyourwindgeneratoronthehighesttowerthatispracticable
andcosteffectiveforyoursite.Themajorityofwindturbines
installedinAustraliaareontowersthataretooshort,yetoftenthe
ownersoftheseturbinesareunaware.Itcanbehardtotellthata
turbineisnotperformingproperlyjustbywatchingit.

Turbulentwindsextenduptotwotimestheheightoftheobstacle
andadistancedownwindof20timestheheightoftheobstacle.

Towersofatleast24mheightareappropriateinareaswherethe
landisflatorelevatedandtherearenoobstacleswithin150m.
Thetowershouldalsobeatleast300mawayfromanysteep
bluffsorsharpchangesinelevation.Placetheturbineinthearea
ofsmoothlaminarair.Thediagramillustrateshowtotestfor
smoothlaminarairusingaballoon,taglinesandatetherline.
Installthehighestpossibletowerforyoursite.

Testforsmoothlaminarairwithaballoon,taglinesandatether
line.
Ifyoursitehasgroundclutter,thesiteassessororinstallermust
calculatetheminimumtowerheightbasedontheproximityand
heightofthesurroundinggroundclutter.

Ageneralruleforminimumtowerheightisthatthebottomofthe
turbinerotor,orblades,shouldbeatleast10mabovethetallest
obstructionwithin150morthenearbyprevalenttreeheight.For
trees,thismeansthematuretreeheightoverthe2030yearlife
oftheturbine,notthecurrenttreeheight.Consideralsoanyfuture
plansforbuildings.
Effectively,thismeanstheminimumtowerheightis:
(heightoftallestobstaclewithin150m)+(10mbuffer)+(lengthof
bladeofselectedwindsystem)
Thesiteassessorshouldthenroundthisnumberuptothenext
availabletowerheight.Theextracostofinstallingatallertower
alwayspaysforitselfintheextraenergyproduced.
Forsmallwindsystems,towersof24m,30mor36maretypically
required.Aheightof42mmaybeneededinareaswithafew
closetallerobstacles,suchastrees.Checkthetowerheights
offeredbymanufacturerswhenselectingasmallwindsystem.
Askyourinstallerorwindsiteassessortoprovideexpectedwind
turbineenergyperformancedataforseveraldifferenttower
heightsforyoursite,basedonyoursitesaverageannualwind
speed,windshearandturbulenceintensity.

Choosingawindsystemdesignand
manufacturer
CurrentlyAustraliadoesnothavestandardsorcertificationsfor
smallwindsystemsbuttheprocessisunderway.Investigatethe
statusofAustraliansmallwindstandardsbeforeselectinga

manufacturer.Inthemeantime,theUSAsSmallWind
CertificationCouncil(http://smallwindcertification.org
(http://smallwindcertification.org/) )basedontheAmericanWindEnergy

AssociationsSmallWindTurbinePerformanceandSafety
Standard(www.awea.org(http://www.awea.org/Issues/Content.aspx?
ItemNumber=4651) )isausefulreference.Turbinescanbecertified

throughtheMicrogenerationCertificationSchemewhichrefersto
theBritishWindEnergyAssociationSmallWindTurbine
PerformanceandSafetyStandard(www.renewableuk.com
(http://www.renewableuk.com/en/renewableenergy/windenergy/smallandmedium
scalewind/standardsandcertification.cfm) )andtheInternational

ElectrotechnicalCommissionsSmallWindStandards.
InvertersusedwithgridconnectedsmallwindturbinesinAustralia
typicallyneedtocomplywithAS47772005,Gridconnectionof
energysystemsviainverters,tobeallowedtoconnectwiththe
electricitygrid.
Themostcosteffective,productiveandreliablesmallwind
systemsarewindgeneratorswithasetoftwoorthreebladesthat
spinonahorizontalaxis.Asktheinstaller,manufacturerordealer
thesequestionsbeforepurchasingawindsystem:
Doesthewindturbinecomplywithanyinternationalsafety
andperformancestandards?
Whatistheannualenergyoutput(measuredinkilowatt
hours)fortheturbineinannualaveragewindspeedsof4
7m/s?Howwasthisinformationdeveloped?Hasthisever
beenverifiedbyanindependenttestingorreviewingagency

fromreallifesituations?
Howlongisthewarrantyperiodfortheturbine?Whatdoes
thewarrantycover?Whatisexcluded?
Howmanyproductionmodelshavebeensoldtoordinary
customers?Howmanyoftheturbinessoldarestillrunning?
Canyouprovidetheenergyperformancedataofthreeof
theseturbinesinthefieldandrefermetothesecustomers?
Hastheturbineevergonethroughareliabilitytest?By
whom?Forhowlong?Whatweretheresults?

Choosingawindsystemsize
Thefirststepinchoosingthesizeofawindsystemistoclarify
yourgoals.Forexample,ifyouareinstallingagridconnected
systemandyourgoalistobecarbonneutral,thenaveragethe
annualenergyneedsofthehouseholdorsiteoverseveralyears
(orappropriatelypredictthemforanewbuilding)soyouknow
howmuchenergyyouneedyourwindsystemtoproduceeach
year.
Ifyouareinstallingagridconnectedsystemandyouwouldliketo
maximiseitsfinancialperformance,consideranystategrants
available,anyrenewableenergycertificates,andimportantlythe
valueoftheenergyproducedbythewindsystem.Forexample,
withcurrentnetfeedintariffs,theenergygeneratedbyawind
systemusedinstantaneouslyonsite(ordisplacedimportenergy)
isroughly25.9cents/kWh.Thisisamuchhighervaluethan
generatedenergysentbacktothegridandnotused
instantaneouslyonsite(exportedenergy),whichiscloserto8

cents/kWh.Workwithanindependentsmallwindexpertto
analysetheexpecteddisplacedimportandexportvaluesofthe
windelectricityfordifferentwindsystemsizes,basedonthedaily
loadprofileofthehouseandseasonalwindpatterns,todetermine
thefinancialperformanceofthewindsystem.
ManyAustraliansmallwindsystemsareinstalledoffgrid,and
dailywindenergyproductiontodailysiteenergyneedsmustbe
considered.Typically,offgridsmallwindsystemsizesare
selectedbyconsideringthesiteselectricityloads(numberofkWh
usedperdayonsite)andthesystemsestimatedenergy
productionatthetowerheightrequired,takingintoaccountlosses
andseasonalvariation.Aguideforoffgridsystemsizingisthat
dailywindgenerationshouldbe150200%ofthesiteload,ifthe
windsystemprovidesallelectricityforthesite.Thislargersizingis
duemainlytodumploadlossesinoffgridsystems.
InAustralia,installedsmallwindgeneratorsareusuallyratedin
therangeof110kWbutsmallsystemsalsoincludeturbinesof
upto100kW.Microwindgenerators(systems<1kW)aretypically
usedforsmallbatterycharging,forexampleonboats.
Manufacturersprovidearatedpowercapacityofawind
generatorataspecifiedwindspeed.Asnotallmanufacturersrate
theirsystemsatthesamewindspeed,theratedpowercapacity
givesanindicationonlyofaturbinessizerelativetoothers.
Compareturbinesbytheirpredictedannualenergyoutputforthe
averageannualwindspeedatyoursite.Whenyoudetermine
yourminimumtowerheight,andaveragewindspeedsatthat

height,obtainthemanufacturersperformancedataforcertified
turbinestoseewhichmeetsyourenergyneeds.Alsocomparethe
expectedperformanceofthesamewindsystemonatowerheight
6mand12mtallerthantheminimumtowerheight.Uptodate
windturbinebuyerguidescanbeveryhelpfulforthiscomparison.
Comparethenumbersinthetabletoahouseholdelectricity
usageof5,000kWh/year.
Windsystemsandtheirpredictedannualenergyperformanceina
rangeofwindspeeds

Predictedenergyperformance(kWh/year)
formanufacturerratedcapacityof

Averagewind

2.4kWat

5kWat

10kWat

50kWat

speed(m/s)

13m/s

17m/s

12m/s

9.5m/s

3.6

914

3,459

5,000

48,145

4.0

1,373

4,438

7,100

68,890

4.5

1,925

5,443

9,600

91,758

4.9

2,594

6,444

12,700

115,746

5.4

3,216

7,410

15,900

139,955

5.8

3,898

8,315

19,500

163,647

6.3

4,575

9,132

23,300

186,254

Foracarbonneutralhome,theenergyneedsoftheactual
householdmustbeconsidered.Forexample,the2.4kWwind
systemneedsanunusuallyhighwindresource(greaterthan
6.3m/s)tomeetresidentialusageof5,000kWh/yearforatypical

energyefficient,gridconnectedhousehold.The5kWwindsystem
wouldrequireamoretypicalwindspeedof4.5m/stomeetthe
homesenergyneeds.The50kWwindsystemismoreappropriate
forgridconnectedruralfarmingapplicationswithhigherenergy
use.
Inverterandbatteryefficiencyshouldbetakenintoaccountin
accordancewithdesignguidelines.Ahouseholdelectricityusage
of5,000kWh/yearequatestoabout13.5kWh/day.
Averagedailyoutputofa1kWwindgeneratoratvariousaverage
windspeeds
Averagewind

DailyACload(kWh)suppliedbya1kW

speed(m/s)

windsystem

2.1

3.0

5.5

7.6

9.1

Inatypicalwindregimeof5m/s,a1kWwindsystemwould
produceaquarterofthedailyenergyneedsofthishousehold
electricityuse.However,turbineandbatterysizingiscomplexfor
offgridwindsystems,especiallyforoffgridhybridwindandsolar
systems.Offgridwindandbatterysystemsizingshouldbe
undertakeninconsultationwithanexperiencedinstaller.

Gridconnectedwindsystemsshouldbeinstalledascloseas
possibletotheconnectionpoint,typicallylessthan300mdueto
thecostoftheconnectingcable.Foroffgridsystems,thewind
generatorneedstobelocatedascloseaspossibletothebattery
banktoovercomethepowerlossandvoltagedropinthecables.
Ifthepreferredsiteisdistantfromthehouse,thebatteriesand
invertercouldbelocatednearthewindgeneratorandpower
transmittedas240VACtominimisecablelosses.Alternatively,a
turbinewithahighergenerationvoltagecanbechosen.Higher
voltagetransmissionmeanslowerlosses.
Installgridconnectedwindsystemsascloseaspossibletothe
connectionpoint.
Windgeneratorscanproducesomerunningsoundinhighwinds,
fromtheblades,gearboxorbrushgearorfromwindwhistlingpast
thetower,poleorguywires.Thesoundmaynotbeloudbutmay
benoticeabletoyouorcloseneighbours.Thebackgroundnoise
ofthewinditselfusuallycoversthesoundoftheblades.Always
ensurethattherearenoobjectionstothelowlevelnoise
produced,andthattheturbineislocatedanappropriatedistance
fromhouseholds.

Choosingatowertype
Thethreemaintypesoftowers:tiltup,guyedlattice,and
freestanding(freestandingtowerscouldbealatticeormonopole
tower)haveavarietyofconsiderations,showninthetable.
Towertypesforwindsystems

Towertype

Freestanding Guyedlattice

Tiltup
Installed

Installation

Crane

Installedonground,

onground,

liftedwithcrane

liftedwith
crane

Base

710%of

Guyradius5080%

Guyradius

towerheight

oftowerheight

2560%of

forconcrete

minimumcleared

tower

foundation

arearequired

height
Lower

Maintenance Climb

Climb

turbine
twice/year

Cost

Expensive

Leastexpensive

Midrange
cost

Tiltuptowersaredesignedsothattheycanbeloweredand
raisedbytiltingthetowerwithaginpoleandwinch.
Atilttowerandginpolemusthavesufficientareaaroundthewind
towerforthetowerandtheguywirestobelowered.A24mtall
towerneedsatleasta24mareaforlowering.Ifavehicleisused
toraiseandlowerthetoweritalsoneedsroomtosafelyaccess
thesiteandmanoeuvre.

Source:GeoffStapleton
Typicalwindtowerdesign.
Thetowerandtheguywiresusuallyrequireconcretefootings,
althoughsometimesscrewanchorsorrockanchorsmaybeused.
Thesefootingsmustbedesignedinaccordancewiththewind
loadingsfortheparticularsite.Guywiretensionsneedtobe
checkedfrequently.

SourceIanWoofenden
Tiltup,fixedandfreestandingtowershavedifferentfootprintson
theground.

Loweringthewindtower.

Turbinecontrols

Aswindspeedincreases,thewindgeneratorspinsfasterand
generatesmorepoweratahighervoltage.Ifwindspeed
continuestoincreasepastacertainpoint,thegeneratorwould
ultimatelybedestroyedorwearoutprematurely.Mostwind
generatorsthereforehaveawindcutoutspeedatwhichtheunit
employssomeformofoverspeedcontroltoeitherstoptheunit
generatingpowerorgoverntherotationalspeedtoproduce
constantpower.
Thetwomostcommonformsofoverspeedcontrolaremechanical
brakingandfeathering.
Inmechanicalbraking,abrake,similartothosefoundinmany
cars,isappliedasaresultofthecentrifugalforcesdeveloped
whentheunitapproachesthecutoutspeed.Iftheunitis
operatinginanareawhereaveragespeedisclosetothecutout
speed,brakingmightbefrequentandthebrakeswillwearout
rapidly.
Infeathering,aturbinerotatestheindividualbladestoreducetheir
angleintothewind,therebyreducingrotorspeed.Whenthe
wholewindturbineturnsoutofthewind,thetermusedisfurling.
Windgeneratorsproducepowerwhenturninginwindsabovethe
cutoutpoint.Ifthebatteriesarefullychargedtheexcesspoweris
redirectedintoadummyload,usuallyanelectricalheating
element.Thedummyloadcangetveryhotandshouldbe
positionedwhereitwillnotbetouchedaccidentally,orcreatethe
riskoffireorexplosion.

Maintenance

Allwindturbinesrequireregularmaintenance,atleastoncebut
ideallytwiceayear.Compareyourturbinewithyourcar:aturbine
islikelytospinabout7,000hoursayearatypicalcarlifetimeis
4,000hoursofdriving.Thatsnearlytwocarlifetimesinasingle
yearofturbineoperation.
Welldesignedwindturbinesareprojectedtolast2030years.To
ensuresystemperformance,sticktoaregularmaintenance
regime.
Mostmaintenanceiscentredonthoroughinspectionsofthe
turbineandtower.Thetowerneedstobedesignedtoallow
accessforservicingmechanicalcomponents,suchasbearings.

Referencesandadditionalreading
Contactyourstate,territoryorlocalgovernmentforfurther
informationonrenewableenergy,includingavailablerebates:
www.gov.au(http://www.gov.au/)
CleanEnergyCouncil.Certifiedsmallwindinstallers
(http://www.solaraccreditation.com.au/consumers/findaninstaller.html) .

www.solaraccreditation.com.au(http://www.solaraccreditation.com.au/)
Freere,PandRobotham,T.2004.Windpower:planyourown
windpowersystem.AlternativeTechnologyAssociation,
Melbourne.www.ata.org.au(http://www.ata.org.au/)

Gipe,P.2004.Windpower:renewableenergyforhome,farm,
andbusiness,revedn.ChelseaGreenPublishing,WhiteRiver
Junction,VT.www.windworks.org(http://www.windworks.org/cms/)
HomePowerMagazinewindarticlesincluding:Howtobuya
windelectricsystem(2008,HP122)Howtobuyawind
generator(2009,HP131)Iswindyelectricityrightforyou?
(2011,HP143)Howtallistootall?(updated2012).
www.homepower.com(http://www.homepower.com/)
Smallwindturbinebuyersguide.2010.ReNew,100.
www.renew.org.au(http://renew.org.au/category/windpower/)
Webb,A.2007.Theviabilityofdomesticwindturbinesforurban
Melbourne.AlternativeTechnologyAssociation,Melbourne.
www.ata.org.au(http://http://www.ata.org.au/ataresearch/theviabilityof
domesticwindturbines)

Woofenden,I.2005.Windgeneratortowerbasics.HomePower
105,FebruaryandMarch2005

Authors
Principalauthors:GeoffStapleton,GeoffMilne
Contributingauthor:ChrisRiedy
UpdatedbyKatieRosswithhelpfromCraigMemery,2013

Accessibility(http://industry.gov.au/Pages/Accessibility.aspx) |
Privacy(http://industry.gov.au/AboutUs/LegalandLegislativeReporting/Pages/LegalNotices.aspx) |
Disclaimer(http://industry.gov.au/pages/Disclaimer.aspx) |
Copyright(http://industry.gov.au/AboutUs/LegalandLegislativeReporting/Pages/LegalNotices.aspx) | Sitemap(/sitemap) |
Sitehelp(/node/113) | Contactus(/contactus) | Preface(/node/105) | Abbreviations(/abbreviations) | Glossary(/glossary) |
Climatezones(/node/110) | Acknowledgements(/acknowledgements)