Beyond the Grid: Residential wind turbines, a local option?

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Energy created by wind has been used for centuries, from sails moving boats on the water to windmills for milling grain. Today, new technology makes the harnessing of wind power increasingly accessible.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the share of domestic electricity generation from wind has grown from less than 1% in 1990 to about 10.2% in 2022. 

While there are many sources of energy besides fossil fuels, not all alternative sources work in all areas. Two sources San Benito County can expect to reliably tap into are solar and wind. 

Solar energy is common in the area; less common is wind-driven energy—including the emerging technology of residential wind turbines. 

While wind power on a large scale is well-known, a recent conversation on alternative energy with a Hollister resident introduced this reporter to the residential wind energy concept. The resident said she thought about using a wind turbine but assumed the ones available were too big for her backyard.

This does not appear to be the case, however, as wind turbines come in various sizes and energy producing capacities, including some made for the home market. 

A1 Solar, an online store for solar equipment, lists various types and sizes of residential wind turbines.

Types

Horizontal-axis wind turbines dominate the residential market. They look like miniature versions of commercial wind turbines, with two or three blades spinning around a horizontal shaft. They’re more efficient than vertical designs and work better in most residential applications.

Vertical-axis wind turbines spin around a vertical shaft and can capture wind from any direction. While they’re often marketed as “quieter” or “better for turbulent wind,” they’re generally less efficient and more expensive per kilowatt-hour produced.

Sizes

Micro-wind turbines (under 1 kW) work for small applications like RV charging or powering remote equipment, but they won’t make a meaningful dent in a typical home’s electricity bill.

Small wind turbines (1 to 10 kW) represent the sweet spot for most residential applications. A 5 to 10 kW system can potentially supply a significant portion of an average home’s electricity needs under the right conditions.

Mid-size residential turbines (10 to 100 kW) suit larger properties with high electricity usage, though they require substantial towers and generally face more complex permitting requirements.

Choosing a wind turbine 

Popular Science advises homeowners to: 

• Calculate your energy needs
• Evaluate wind conditions
• Determine capacity factor of a wind turbine
• Select the appropriate wind turbine size

Units can be purchased at home improvement stores such as Lowes and Home Depot. 

BenitoLink reached out to the city of Hollister, San Benito County and the city of San Juan Bautista regarding local permitting and regulations for residential wind turbines but received no responses by publication time.

Further reading

Review and cost analysis

U.S. Department of Energy Small Wind Guidebook

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BenitoLink thanks our underwriter, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), for helping to cover alternative and innovative energy stories around San Benito County. Pacific Gas and Electric Company, incorporated in California in 1905, is one of the largest utility companies in the United States. All editorial decisions are made by BenitoLink. We need your help. Support local, nonprofit news! BenitoLink is a nonprofit news website that reports on San Benito County. Our team is committed to this community and providing essential, accurate information to our fellow residents. Producing local news is expensive, and community support keeps the news flowing. Please consider supporting BenitoLink, San Benito County’s public service nonprofit news.