Residential Wind Power Cost

Wind energy is one of the best options that households willing to adopt renewable energy have, although it is more suitable for rural and suburban locations. A wind turbine is installed on top of a tall tower to collect kinetic energy from the wind and convert it to electricity that is compatible with a home's electrical system. But what does residential wind power cost?

According to the American Wind Energy Association, a small turbine can cost from $6,000 to $22,000, installation included. That may sound expensive, but a wind turbine can lower the electricity bill by 50 to 90 percent. Households with a wind turbine can have electricity bills of as little as $8 to $15 for most of the year, sometimes the whole year for those who live in the north, which makes residential wind power cost attractively low.

Residential wind power cost will depend on the average wind speed in the area. Ideally, a turbine should generate at least a 10mph average wind speed and the owner be paying at least 10 cents/kWh for electricity.

In order to project realistically residential wind power cost, besides the cost of electricity, a household should consider whether the electricity utility it uses offers net metering. Also, it is crucial to find out whether the house is located in a suitable wind zone (an evaluator can help with that). Finally, some states offer a wind power rebate program, which can help reduce residential wind power installation costs.