What kind of wind is needed to run an industrial scale turbine?
Typically industrial turbines begin producing power at wind speeds above 4 or 5 meters per second, about 9 to 11 miles per hour. The amount of power they put out increases rapidly and exponentially as wind speed increases, to between about 14 and 20 miles per hour, or 6.5 to 9 meters per second, a flat spot on the power curve where they produce their rated output, more or less. Turbines automatically shut down by feathering the pitch of their blades after about 25 meters per second or 45 miles per hour. An example of the power curve of a typical 100 KWH turbine is shown above. Each manufacturer’s make and model of turbine has it’s own specified power curve. Different turbines do better under different wind conditions. A turbine with a lower cut-in speed may do better on a low wind site, while a turbine with a longer flat spot at the top of the curve may be better for a windy island or offshore site. How can our community know if a turbine will work on our site? Professional wind resour
