Have you ever thought of harnessing the wind to power your home? Today, the world is moving away from traditional methods of generating electricity (namely natural gas, coal, and nuclear power), and embracing renewable energy systems such as wind turbines.
Wind turbines do not emit harmful gases into the environment, thus making the process of harnessing wind energy clean and safe for the environment. There are a few different types of wind turbine, but generally speaking they all comprise two key parts:
- The rotor (includes the hub and blades).
- The wind turbine generator
Both of these parts operate together. The kinetic energy from the wind turns the turbine blades around the rotor, making the rotor spin the generator to create electricity.
This is why in this article, we will recommend our best wind generator picks for small wind systems, keeping in mind both, generator and rotor blade design.
Editor’s Picks
After reviewing multiple options, we have settled on the best 3 based on design, wind utilization, and budget. We have also included a hybrid system in case you want a renewable energy system that combines both solar and wind.
Each power system of the AUECOOR hybrid wind-solar system works well on its own. This means that you can use wind energy alone or solar power on its own. As such, if you can’t harness enough wind power because of seasonal changes, you will have solar as a backup.
Unlike most wind energy generators, the AUECOOR wind energy system has 5 blades while the solar panels have higher conversion efficiency. The AUECOOR’s daily output is 4kwh and, therefore, can be used for many electric power applications.
In wind energy generation, efficient wind utilization results in more energy output. The Pikasola wind turbine has a combination of features that make it the best at efficient wind utilization. They include:
- More blades. This model comes with 5 blades, which not only increase power output but also reduce noise and increase operational efficiency.
- Longer blades. The longer the blades, the more wind they catch and the more wind energy they generate.
- The wind turbine design includes a tailfin to improve yaw stability
- The yaw system automatically detects wind speed and direction and changes direction to match
If you are just starting out with renewable wind energy and you need to first test the waters before you make a bigger financial commitment, we recommend the Marsrock wind turbine for these reasons:
- It is stable even at high wind speeds of 50m/s
- Although small, it is powerful enough to charge your bulbs, batteries or outdoor lights
- It has an inbuilt magnet to reduce spinning resistance
- It is strong and sturdy
The Marsrock takes the cake from an economic perspective because, at its low price tag, you still get top-notch features to help you truly experience wind power. It even comes with a hybrid solar-wind controller, which is quite handy if you also want to experiment with hybrid power systems.
How Do Wind Turbine Generators Work?
Before we get stuck into the rest of the market, we should first explain how wind turbine generators work. Wind turbines have been in use long before the discovery of electricity, when the power of the wind was used to pump water and turn grinding wheels in mills (hence the term ‘windmills’). In these circumstances, the kinetic (or mechanical) power of the wind is utilised in its mechanical form, and as the blades of the turbine turn, so too does the machinery it’s attached to.
However, wind power itself is not strong enough to generate electricity without some further help. That’s where wind turbine generators (WTGs) come in. In short, wind turbine generators take the slow kinetic energy produced as wind forces turbine blades to turn, and converts this energy into electrical charge, or voltage, which can then be used to power our homes and the electrical grid.
To be more specific, once wind begins rotating the blades of the turbine, the rotating blades turn a driveshaft inside the body of the turbine. This driveshaft is connected to a gearbox, which – through an increasingly smaller set of gears – dramatically increasing the torque generated by the turbine (in other words, a few RPM can be ramped up to hundreds or thousands of RPM). Finally, the gearbox feeds its mechanical energy into the wind turbine generator. Inside the WTG, the generated torque forces a magnet and an electrical coil to interact, which (in accordance with Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction) produces AC voltage: the type of electricity we require to power our homes.
The power of the wind is infinite, but wind turbines, on the other hand, do not last forever. The very best home wind turbine generators operate with a permanent copper coil, around which moves a moving magnet. Since these motors don’t require brushes to move the coil, they are less prone to degradation. However, the more affordable market alternative is the PMMC generator motor (or permanent magnet, moving coil). These require brushes to push the coil about the magnet, and the brushes need fairly regular maintenance.
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Pros and Cons of Wind Turbine Generators
As with anything as mechanically complex as wind turbine generators, they have their share of ups and downs, pros and cons:
Pros:
- Wind is a plentiful resource. Whilst dependent on where you live, you’ll most likely find regardless of location that wind is one of the most dependable of green, renewable energy sources. Unlike solar, powered by sunlight which many of us in the world don’t have regular, dependable exposure to, wind power is almost a constant.
- Wind Turbine Generators are designed to maximise even the slightest wind. The very best wind turbine generators begin producing electricity at low wind speeds, thanks to the fact that generators multiply the minimal torque produced by blade rotation many hundreds of times, thus producing electricity.
- They save you money. Generating your own renewable energy can drastically reduce your annual energy bills. Furthermore, depending on the government initiatives in place in your country, state, or county, by feeding any surplus electricity your WTG generates back into the grid, you could even earn money.
- Permanent coil, moving magnet motors in WTGs require little maintenance and have an impressively long shelf life. Meaning that whilst the initial investment may be steep, you’ll rarely have to fork out again for maintenance, and will therefore recoup your expenses quicker.
- They’re green and low carbon. In a world suffering more and more acutely from the effects of climate crisis, powering your home via green, low carbon energy is not only morally commendable, but a sound investment for the future.
Cons:
- Permanent magnet, moving coil motors in WTGs (compared to their permanent coil counterparts) require the use of brushes in their operation. These brushes are fragile, and are prone to degradation, meaning that your WTG may well require regular (and potentially expensive) maintenance. Still, with the offset to your electricity bills, and the potential to make back money on government schemes, maintenance of these types of WTGs may still fall short of the cost of regular grid electricity.
- Noise. Wind turbine generators, like any generators, produce noise as they work. Thankfully, technology has come far and made many improvements to the efficiency of WTGs, and whilst they do still make a little noise, chances are you’ll hardly notice the noise produced. However, if you want perfect silence in your garden, then a wind turbine generator is perhaps not the best choice.
- They’re not suitable for every home. Wind turbines require an ample amount of uninterrupted space in order to function properly, and so are only highly recommended to those living in rural, windy areas with plenty of garden (or roof) space in/on which they can install a wind turbine.
- Cost. Wind turbine generators are expensive. Now, granted, whilst the cost of them will be offset in time by the savings you make on your electricity bills, there’s no denying that not everyone has the disposable income requisite to installing a home wind turbine generator.
Best Reviewed Wind Generators
Below are the best-reviewed solar wind generators in the market:
Pikasola Wind Turbine Generator Kit 400W 12V with 5 Blades
- Brand: Pikasola
- Starting with 2.5m/s Low wind speed
- Low vibration during working
- High wind energy efficiency
- Magnetic Material: Neodymium Iron Boron
If you want to power your home, cabin, boat, or RV, this 400W 12V Pikasola Wind Turbine Generator Kit is a good option to consider. Its blades start spinning at 2.5m/s and the generator vibrates minimally when working.
Its corrosion-resistant wind blades are 23.8 inches long, making them generate more power, and they have an aerodynamically designed tail fin. More so, the 5 blades on this generator give it even more wind generation capability.
This Pikasola wind generator is compact and its 3-phase motor makes it efficient.
In addition, the yaw adjustment system allows this wind generator to detect wind changes and automatically change direction.
Pros:
- Comes with a hybrid controller
- The turbine has 5 blades
- Long blades with a tailfin
Cons:
- You need to buy a mounting pole separately
ECO-WORTHY 1400W Wind Turbine and Solar Power Kit
- Brand: Eco-Worthy
- Wind & Solar Hybrid Controller
- High module conversion efficiency
- Carbon fiber composite
This Eco-Worthy wind-solar power kit generates power through a 3-blade 400w wind turbine generator, and 10 pieces of 100w mono solar panels, for a total of 1400w of energy.
You can generate 6kwh daily and charge a 24v battery in different weather conditions with this kit. More so, it has a sturdy and durable build making it ideal in freezing as low as-22℉ and as high as 140℉.
Use it on land or Marine to power all electrical operations in your house or boat.
Pros:
- 1-year warranty
- Hybrid, so reliable in all weather conditions
- Long 24-inch blades
Cons:
- The solar panels need a lot of space to mount
Pikasola Wind Turbine Generator 400W 24V
- Brand: Pikasola
- Starting with low speed
- High wind energy utilization
- Low vibration on operation, high efficiency
The difference between this wind power generator and its other Pikasola home wind turbines is that this is a 24v model. This makes it suitable for bigger homes or projects requiring high electricity consumption.
As with other Pikasola wind power generators, this wind turbine is molded through precise injection and also has an aerodynamic structure. This standard Pikasola design results in high wind utilization for increased energy output.
This model also adopts a patented magnetic rotor alternator and stater design that minimizes resistance torque.
The blades are made from high-quality carbon fiber
Pros:
- 24v model generates more power
- You can power bigger projects or supply a big home’s electric needs
Cons:
- You need to purchase the mounting hardware separately
Pikasola Wind Turbine Generator 12V 400W With a 30A Hybrid Charge Controller.
- Brand: Pikasola
- Starting with Low Speed
- High wind energy utilization
- Low vibration on operation, high efficiency
- Nylon material waterproof, corrosion resistant
The Pikasola Wind Turbine Generator has strong wind turbines made of carbon fiber. The 23.4 inch long turbines generate additional power and are waterproof and corrosion resistant, making this generator suitable for different weather types.
The Pikasola wind energy generator has an intelligent adjustment system that automatically adjusts the rotors based on wind position. The tailfin of the rotors is also aerodynamically designed.
When you buy this Pikasola, you will receive a 30A Hybrid Charge Controller that you can use with solar panels for an added 100 w of energy. Solar panels aren’t however included, hence you will have to buy them separately
Pros:
- Strong and durable nylon fiber rotors
- Intelligent wind adjustment system adapts to changing wind direction
Cons:
YaeMarine 3 Blades, 12V 400W Wind Power Generator Kit with Controller
- Brand: YaeMarine
- Human friendly design
- Low start up speed
- High wind energy utilization
- Beautiful appearance
- Low vibration
The YaeMarine wind turbine is an easy to install, aerodynamically designed, sturdy, and beautiful wind generator. With a DC12V rated voltage and a rated power of 400W, it makes it a perfect addition to your home wind energy system.
This generator comes with a stator that is specially designed to reduce resistance torque. The stator design also ensures a better match between the generator and the turbines, giving a more reliable performance.
The structure of the YaeMarine blades is designed with an aerodynamic contour and structure. This ensures high wind utilization for more energy output.
In addition, YaeMarine wind turbines have low start-up wind speed, at 2.0m/s and they have low vibration during spinning.
Pros:
- Beautiful design
- Aerodynamically designed for better wind utilization
- Low start-up speeds
- 90-day free return period
Cons:
- Energy output more stable at higher wind speeds
- Lightweight gadget, so you need to mount more securely
AUECOOR 1000 Watts Solar & Wind Hybrid Kit 6 pcs 100W Solar Panel +400W Wind Turbine Generator
- Brand: AUECOOR
- Pre drilled diodes in junction box
- High module conversion efficiency
- Higher efficiency than the traditional panel
- Suitable for outdoor use in harsh weather
The great thing about a solar and wind energy system is that on certain days or even seasons, you could have very low winds or sun. With the AUECOOR hybrid wind-solar system, each power system works well on its own. This means that you can use solar alone or wind energy alone.
Unlike most wind energy generators, the AUECOOR wind energy system has 5 blades. The solar panels are designed for higher conversion efficiency, meaning they can perform better than regular solar panels.
The AUECOOR’s daily output is 4kwh and can be used for many electric power applications even when completely off-grid.
Pros:
- Great for off-grid use as home wind turbines
- The hybrid system for stable energy output during less windy seasons
- 6-year warranty on material and workmanship
- 25-year warranty on output
- 24/7 customer service
Cons:
- Heavy and bulky solar panels
- The solar panels limit installation to some surfaces
AUECOOR Solar Wind Hybrid System, 400W Wind turbines + 120W Flexible Monocrystalline Solar Panel
- Brand: AUECOOR
- High Conversion & Waterproof
- Thin and light weight
- Strong and powerful
If you want a hybrid solar and wind renewable energy system but don’t want to have to deal with the 6 solar panels that come with AUECOOR 1000 Watts Solar Panel & Wind Turbine Hybrid Kit, try the AUECOOR Solar Wind Hybrid System with a 120W Flexible Monocrystalline Solar Panel.
The wind turbines have a 2.5m/s wind start-up speed to guarantee constant wind energy generation. The solar panel is flexible, making it easy to store. The flexibility also means that you can install it on irregular surfaces. At only 2kg, the solar panel is also quite light making it easy to transport. The solar panel is also easy to install and has a 20.5% energy conversion efficiency.
Pros:
- Strong and durable turbine blades made of carbon fiber composite
- Can be used off-grid
- 2.5m/s wind startup speed to suit any wind flow
- Flexible and light-weight solar panel
Cons:
- Expensive
Marsrock 3 Blades Small Wind Turbine Generator 12Volt 400W Economy Windmill with MPPT Controller for Wind and Solar
- Brand: Marsrock
- Starting up with low speed
- High wind energy utilization
- Beautiful appearance
- Low vibration
The Marsrock is a small wind turbine generator that’s suitable for charging your indoor and outdoor utilities. Though it has a low starting speed of 2m/s, it can withstand winds as high as 50m/s.
It is aerodynamically designed, giving it better wind utilization power.
It also has a permanent magnet rotor which reduces resistance to make spinning easier. Nylon fiber gives the Marsrock wind turbines a strong build that can withstand a working temperature range of -40℃~80℃
Pros:
- Aerodynamic build
- Can withstand high wind speeds
- Has an estimated lifespan of 20 years
- Comes with a hybrid controller
Cons:
- You need some welding knowledge to mount the wind turbine
Buyers’ Guide
There are a number of things you need to consider before you install a wind power system in your home or business premises.
Swept area in square feet
The rotor diameter tells you the area that the spinning turbines will cover. The more area covered, the more energy you will cover. Note however that if your property is not large enough to give enough clearance for the blades to spin, then you should probably go with smaller blades.
Warranty
The higher the warranty, the better. However, most sellers of wind generators give a standard 5-year warranty. Usually, products that last longer have specialized protection systems in place, such as UV protection coating.
Certification
Wind power systems undergo a series of stringent tests. Check whether the manufacturer of your wind energy system has been issued with certificates confirming they have undergone such tests.
Energy output in Kilowatt hours
To determine whether a wind energy system will sufficiently power your home, first, calculate the amount of energy you consume. Then compare the energy output of different wind energy systems and pick the right one.
Other factors to consider when buying home wind turbines include:
- Battery capacity
- Ability to connect to the utility grid
- Wind energy distribution system
- Turbine braking system
- Portability. In case you need to move your devices from place to place, go for lightweight material such as glass fiber or look for a kit with carbon fiber blades
- Manufacturer’s or installer’s terms
- Product reviews
- The site or location where you want to install your wind turbines
It’s also important to check the number of items that come in the product package as the last thing you want is to have to order parts separately to complete your home wind turbines.
Final Verdict
Your choice of wind power system should depend entirely on your electricity needs. The budget also comes into play although when it comes to renewable energy, initial costs usually mean significant savings in the future.
The ECO-WORTHY 1400W Wind Solar Power Kit, AUECOOR 1000 Watts and the AUECOOR 400W are all hybrid systems suitable for meeting heavy power requirements when off-grid. And if you are looking for a more interesting design with greater wind utilization, try the YaeMarine.
Check Out Our Pinterest Board For The Best Home Wind Turbines
FAQs
There are three main types of wind turbine generators:
The AC generator
The alternator
The dynamo
Your choice of any of these three generators depends on the type of energy system you want and its purposes. The dynamo, for instance, works well if you want to charge batteries. If you have plans to connect to the local grid, the alternator will do. If you run a plant or a factory, you should also consider the scale of operations you are running and whether wind energy can replace distribution systems such as diesel generators.
That depends entirely on your energy needs and the energy production capacity of your wind energy system. If your energy consumption needs are high, then the cost of installing a power system that will give you the results you want might be significant. That said, you could overlook the cost if you want to live completely off-grid.
A small 1 kW wind turbine can be installed on a chimney or roof is approximately $7,000. Large turbines need to be mounted on their own tower. The cost of installing such a large turbine can be as high as $80,000. You should also consider wind turbine maintenance and maintenance costs. These costs can vary, however, and you should get a quote from the installation company.
Home wind turbines are capable of generating between 20 watts to 100kw. So the turbines you choose will depend on your application. If you need to pump water, you can use turbines that generate between 1kW to 10 kW. You can charge batteries with turbine blades generating between 20 watts to 500 watts.
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