Wind power

A wind turbine generates whenever the wind blows, day or night. That makes it a useful partner to solar, which only produces in daylight, and it can let you run a smaller battery bank than solar alone would need.

Where wind works

The power in the wind rises steeply with its speed, so the site decides everything. Open farmland, ridges and other exposed sites with steady wind suit a turbine on a proper mast. Suburban plots rarely do, because buildings and trees break the wind into slow, gusty turbulence. There, panels on the roof will usually do more for the same money.

Part of a whole system

We look at wind alongside solar and storage, so you only pay for a turbine where it earns its place. Our article on when small wind turbines make sense explains how to check a site before you buy.