Small Scale Wind Power for Homes, Farms and Communities

The document describes small wind turbines (0.3 to 100 kW) as tools for distributed generation that reduce reliance on fossil-fuel plants and the electrical grid. It details the differences between horizontal axis (HAWT) and vertical axis (VAWT) turbines, the shift from off-grid to grid-connected systems, and the role of community wind projects. It highlights the United States' leadership in manufacturing and installed capacity, while outlining key federal incentives like the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

• Small wind turbines, with generating capacities ranging from 0.3 to 100 kW, are primarily used for distributed generation to provide clean energy to rural homes, farms, and businesses, thereby reducing the load on the electrical transmission grid.
• The United States is a global leader in both the manufacturing and installed capacity of small wind turbines; in 2011, domestic manufacturers reported $115 million in sales, and by 2010, the U.S. cumulative capacity reached 179 MW.
• Horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) are more common due to superior efficiency and generation, while vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) are better suited for locations with limited space or inconsistent wind directions despite generating less power.
• Financial viability for small wind is heavily influenced by federal and state incentives; for example, the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) provides a 30 percent upfront credit, which contributed to a 15 percent growth in sales in 2009.
• Community wind projects, which are at least partially locally owned, account for more than four percent of the cumulative wind capacity in the United States and provide benefits such as local jobs and profits from electricity sales.

APA

Querejazu, D. (2012). Small Scale Wind Power for Homes, Farms and Communities. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/files/small_scale_wind_factsheet_070512.pdf

Chicago

Querejazu, Daniel. Small Scale Wind Power for Homes, Farms and Communities. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2012. https://www.eesi.org/files/small_scale_wind_factsheet_070512.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Querejazu |first1=Daniel |title=Small Scale Wind Power for Homes, Farms and Communities |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=July 2012 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/small_scale_wind_factsheet_070512.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{querejazu2012small, author = {Querejazu, Daniel}, title = {{Small Scale Wind Power for Homes, Farms and Communities}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2012}, month = jul, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/small_scale_wind_factsheet_070512.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }