Small wind turbine

Site-dependent on adequate, consistent wind exposure.

Cost

Medium

Upkeep

Seasonal

Skill to build

Intermediate

Lifespan

20-25 years for a well-built small turbine with durable components and proper controller protection

Embodied carbon

Medium

Space / material use

Medium

Output timing

Weather/time-dependent

Skill to repair

Intermediate

Note: Cost, carbon and footprint are rated against the other options for this same need, not in absolute terms.

What your site needs

Site-dependent on adequate, consistent wind exposure, open terrain, away from trees/buildings; a real constraint for a bocage-normand hedgerow landscape

Inputs

• Wind

Outputs

• DC Electricity

Sources

• MVHR and small-wind-turbine lifespan industry sources (Envirovent, Ventsolve, Automaxx, RenewableEnergyHub)

Tutorials

• https://opensourcelowtech.org/wind_turbine.html
• https://outils-autonomie.fr/eolienne-piggott/

What this page does not tell you

No sizing or quantities: how much a technique yields, and how much a household needs, both depend on the build and the people, so the catalogue compares options rather than dimensioning them. It carries no bill of materials and no build sequence, and it is written for an oceanic, clay-soil climate (Normandy, France). Regulatory notes are indicative and need confirming locally.