| By :
Roger Brown
Wind power costs are driven by a variety of factors. Materials of constructionAmount of power you need to makeType of wind turbine There a number of smaller wind turbines out there that cost under $1,000. Those turbines are manufactured with materials like plastic that may be less resilient in high winds. Larger windmills are typically made out of metal and are a lot stronger and will withstand winds generated in storms. That means they will last a lot longer and won\'t tear apart in storms like windmills made of less substantial materials might. The downside of course is the costs are substantially higher with a system like this. Large wind turbines cost way more than smaller turbines but the cost per kilowatt of installed capacity is much less. For example: A 10 kilowatt wind turbine that will provide power for an entire home will cost $40,000 - $50,000. The tower needed to elevate the windmill to a height where wind is steady can be another $15,000 on top of that. The total amount of power you need to make also has a tremendous amount to do with your wind power costs. It is very critical that you first understand what you are trying to accomplish with the electricity you make. If you are going to power your entire house you will need a turbine that is at least 1,000 watts. If you are going to power a pump for example, you can get away with a relatively small turbine. If you plan on charging batteries for use in the case of a power outage, then you can get away with less if you have a substantial battery bank. The type of turbine you select will also drive wind power costs. There are basically 2 types of windmills - vertical and horizontal. The vertical variety is a lot more expensive. That is because their construction has to be a lot more rugged because of the turbulent most of them operate in. Also, verticals are very new and therefore popular at the moment. That\'s because they can be made to look very stylish and that fashion consciousness has a price. They are quite expensive relative to horizontal wind turbines. Horizontal wind turbines are very straightforward and have been around for centuries and resemble the classic Dutch windmill. In summary, wind turbine cost is driven by a variety of factors. It is therefore prudent to first understand what you are trying to accomplish with the power you make and then be careful. Buying for "looks" can cost you a fortune.
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