Wind Turbine Calculator

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Horizontal-axis turbines (HAWT) face into the wind; vertical-axis turbines (VAWT) capture wind from any direction.
Half the rotor diameter, from hub centre to blade tip.
m
Wind speed at hub height. Power scales with the cube of this value.
m/s
Fraction of wind energy the rotor captures. Modern HAWTs reach 0.35-0.45; the Betz limit is 0.593. VAWTs are typically 0.25-0.40.
Ratio of blade-tip speed to wind speed. Utility HAWTs operate at 6-9; VAWTs are typically 1-3. Used to compute RPM and torque.
Reduction from upstream turbines blocking wind. Isolated turbines: 0%. Dense wind farms: up to 15-20%.
%
Friction and windage in the drive train. Typically 2-5%.
%
Generator and converter losses inside the nacelle. Typically 1-4%.
%
Cable and transformer losses to the grid. Typically 1-2%.
%
Fraction of the year the turbine is offline for maintenance or faults. Typically 2-5%.
%
Elevation above sea level. Higher altitude means lower air density and therefore lower power output.
m
Ambient air temperature at the site. Colder air is denser and yields more power; warmer air reduces output.
°C
Output power before lossesUtility scale
2,128,061W
Available wind power (all Betz-extractable)5,320,152W
Net power output (after all losses)1,845,493W
Net power output1,845.49kW
Real efficiency (Cp plus all losses)34.7%
Swept area5,027m²
Air density at site1.225kg/m³
Rotor speed (RPM)20.1RPM
Torque878,806N·m
Available wind power5,320,152
Power after Cp2,128,061
Net after all losses1,845,493

Net output: 1,845.49 kW (1,845,493 W) at this wind speed.

  • Power scales with the cube of wind speed: doubling the wind multiplies output roughly eightfold. A 10% improvement in wind speed yields about 33% more energy, which is why hub height and site selection dominate turbine economics.
  • Real efficiency is 34.7 %, which compounds the power coefficient with all system losses. The Betz limit caps the rotor at 59.3%; the rest is lost to wake, drive train friction, and electrical conversion.
  • At a continuous net output of 1,845.5 kW this turbine could cover the average demand of about 1,496.8 US homes (approx. 1.23 kW each), though real wind varies constantly, so annual output depends on the wind distribution and the capacity factor.

Next stepEnable "Estimate annual revenue" below to see yearly energy yield and income based on a capacity factor and electricity tariff.

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