Industrial Wind Turbines at Sunrise

See How They Build a Wind Turbine in 5 Short Minutes

It is no secret that industrial wind turbines are great for producing clean energy. But before they build a wind turbine, (aka Industrial Wind Turbine or IWT, many people have many questions concerning long-term cost, the time it takes to break even, and ongoing operational costs.

build a Wind Turbine

The folks at MidAmerican  Energy put together this terrific video that shows the entire process of how they build a wind turbine like those in the Thumb. The video is a little over five minutes and includes factoids during the whole process.


Build a Wind Turbine In Five Minutes


What is The Cost of installing an industrial wind turbine?

The cost of installing an industrial wind turbine depends on the size of the turbine and its location. Larger turbines are more expensive to install than smaller ones, as are those that are more remote or in areas with a high population density. Additionally, installation costs will be higher in areas where it is difficult to access or move large equipment like cranes and trucks.

For example, installing an offshore turbine at sea level with no trees nearby that would require heavy machinery to clear out before construction could begin would be one factor driving up your installation costs. On the other hand, if you were installing an onshore turbine at sea level with no trees nearby but had plenty of flat ground available for constructing foundations without having to excavate first (and therefore use less heavy machinery), then these lower installation costs may balance out any higher manufacturing costs associated with building larger-than-average blades for your machine.

How Much Power Does A Wind Turbine Produce?

The amount of power a wind turbine can produce is determined by four main factors:

The amount of power a wind turbine can produce is determined by four main factors:

The size of the wind turbine: This is directly proportional to the amount of kinetic energy from wind that can be converted into electrical energy.

Wind speed: Higher winds allow for more significant power generation and lead to higher cost-efficiency ratios and less stability in overall production.

Turbine efficiency: A more efficient turbine will convert more kinetic energy into electrical energy than an inefficient one. However, too much efficiency reduces stability and causes increased costs.

Type of turbine (horizontal axis versus vertical axis): Horizontal axis turbines are often cheaper than vertical axis ones due to their design simplicity; however, they require more space, reduce axial loading on bearings which decreases life span, and are less suited for high winds since blades spin horizontally faster than vertically mounted ones do vertically mounted ones rotate slower, so they don’t catch as much wind per rotation


How long until a wind turbine pays for itself?

Wind turbines are probably not for you if you’re looking for a quick return on your investment. Unfortunately, many people assume that after buying and installing a wind turbine, it will work like clockwork forever—and then reap the benefits in perpetuity.

However, even if you have a high-quality turbine installed by an experienced installer (which often costs upwards of $25,000), that doesn’t mean you won’t need to do any maintenance or repairs. For example, if your blades get damaged by hail, ice storms, or other severe weather conditions? You may need to replace them within the first few years after installation.

Afterward? Your turbine will likely start making money again—and keep doing so until it reaches its end-of-life expectancy (usually around 20 years).

What Is The Lifespan Of A Wind Turbine?

The lifespan of a wind turbine depends on the quality and make. The overall lifespan is around 20 years if you take good care of it, but you should check with your local supplier for more precise information. It’s also worth noting that new models are being developed to make them more efficient, so check out what’s on offer before committing to one particular brand or model.

Thinking of Installing an IWT Yourself?

Installing an industrial-quality windmill is not something to be taken lightly. First, you must consider the amount of money it will cost you and whether or not it is worth it to you in the long run. It would help if you also thought about how much power these machines will produce and how long they will last before they need to be replaced with newer models. The final decision to build a wind turbine is up to you, so take some time and think about these factors carefully before making your choice!

Wind XI project

When completed in 2019, the $3.6 billion MidAmerican Energy Wind XI project will add up to 2,000 megawatts of capacity and produce enough wind energy to power more than 840,000 average Iowa homes. In addition, MidAmerican has built over 2,000 wind turbines.

MidAmerican Energy Company, Iowa’s largest energy company, provides electric service to 732,000 customers and natural gas service to 714,000 customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and South Dakota. It is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa.


Fast Facts on Wind Energy

  • As of June 2019, there are now over 57,000 wind turbines built in 41 states in the U.S.
  • Wind energy provides over 20% of the electricity produced in six states.
  • Over the past ten years, there has been an estimated $142 billion invested in wind energy technology
  • In 2018 wind energy supported over 114,000 jobs across every state in the U.S.

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Michael Hardy

Michael Hardy is the owner of Thumbwind Publications LLC. Michael was born in Michigan and grew up near Caseville. In 2009 he started this fun-loving site covering Michigan's Upper Thumb. Since then, he has authored a vast range of content and established a loyal base of 60,000 visitors per month.

View all posts by Michael Hardy →

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