What are you doing "1KW wind turbine" mean?

There are a number of wind turbines on the market that have a “1 KW” rating, but what does this mean when it comes to wind turbines? Well, first of all, KW stands for kilowatt or thousand watts. Watts are a measure of power or “power output over time.” But what does “1 kilowatt wind turbine” mean? Does it mean you will get 1 kilowatt of power all the time? No!

If the wind is not blowing, you will get zero power from any turbine, no matter the kilowatt rating. The 1 kilowatt rating is based on a specific wind speed. Typically, turbines are rated at a wind speed where the conversion efficiency is highest. For example, a turbine converts power inefficiently at 8 miles per hour, but it will be much more efficient at, say, 20 miles per hour. Therefore, the kilowatt rating of a turbine generally corresponds to a wind speed of 20 miles per hour or more. These types of wind numbers are higher than most operators will experience on their property.

For example, there is a turbine called the Windspire that is classified as a 1 kilowatt wind turbine. If you read the specifications for the turbine, it says that it guarantees 1900 kilowatt hours of power per year with an average wind speed of 12 miles per hour.

If you do the math, the turbine produces 5.2 kilowatt hours per day with an average wind of 12 miles per hour. Therefore, the turbine is not producing 1 kilowatt at its expected average wind speed of 12 miles per hour. At 12 miles per hour, the turbine only puts out about 0.22 kilowatts, or about a fifth of its 1-kilowatt rating.

So what does 1 KW Turbine mean? This means that the turbine will generate 1 kilowatt of power at a specified wind speed, typically greater than 20 miles per hour.