Sizing & Pricing for Wind Power Systems

Dovetail Solar and Wind offers complete wind power systems with an abundance of options. We typically recommend ARE wind turbines for small to medium sized wind generators, based on their durability and performance output for typical Midwest wind conditions.

Sample Pricing for ARE turbines

For residential applications with smaller electrical loads, or for homes that plan to utilize both and wind and solar PV in a hybrid system, we also offer a 1.8 kW turbine called the Skystream from Southwest Windpower. The installed cost of a Skystream wind system is approximately $16,000 to $21,000, depending on the site, and the type and height of tower.

Windmill Sizing:

A typical home uses approximately 9,400 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year (about 780 kWh per month). Depending upon the average wind speed in the area, a wind turbine rated in the range of 2.5 to 10 kilowatts is typically required to produce a significant portion of this demand. The installed price for these types of systems, including all electronics, foundation, tower, disconnects, etc. are in the $25,000 to $65,000 range. A typical $40,000 wind turbine can lower your electricity bill by 60 to 90 percent.

Selecting the correct tower size can make a big difference in energy production. In general, towers should be installed so that the machine is 30 feet above all obstacles surrounding it, within a 300 foot radius. This is to ensure that the air is free of turbulence. It will make the wind generator run more smoothly and create less stress on its parts. Another consideration for selecting tower height is that, the higher the tower, the faster and more consistent the wind speed. So, if you are unsure about how high you need to go, taller is generally better.

There are three primary types of towers. From lowest to highest cost they are: guyed lattice, freestanding lattice, and free standing mono-pole. Our lattice towers are typically made of galvanized steel tubing lattice mounted on a large, steel re-enforced concrete footing. They can be either free-standing or guyed with steel cables in four directions and anchored in concrete for outstanding durability. Tilt-up towers can be sometimes be used on for smaller turbines. They allow you to perform routine maintenance with ease using simple hand tools and a truck/tractor.

Free-standing towers are also available for all machines. Although these tower types may initially be more expensive they are easier to install and maintain. Furthermore, the free-standing towers are more aesthetically pleasing, and require less land area or footprint. Our experience leans toward the monopole tower design over all others.

Since a properly designed wind system requires careful consideration of many site and component characteristics, please contact us to obtain more specific pricing for a system to meet your needs.

When available, State grants and Federal tax incentives can offset a significant portion of a residential wind system’s cost. For commercial and farm systems, the offset can be much larger due to the Federal tax incentives. This can be as much as 70% of the system cost see the below presentation for details and examples of each type of system.

Click this link to view or download a copy of Dovetail's presentation on the Economics of Solar & Wind Energy in Ohio (1.1 MB PDF file).

Give us a call to discuss your specific situation. Ohioans should also check the State of Ohio web site: Ohio Dept. of Development's Office of Energy Efficiency (ODOD, OEE) for details on the renewable energy grants that are available.

See our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section for more information. Or see Get Started to understand the next step. Also feel free to call or email, if you have other concerns.

Back to top