On and off the grid

As the speed of the wind changes, so too does the electrical output from a wind turbine. For off-grid turbines, supplying power to a home or cabin, batteries are needed to store power and smooth out fluctuations in the power supply. But if a wind turbine or wind farm is part of the power grid, with dozens of power plants and millions of power-consuming appliances, these fluctuations are typically not noticeable. Wisconsin's use of wind power would have to increase over 100 times for these fluctuations to become a problem in the electrical supply.

Capacity factor

The productivity of a wind turbine, or any kind of power plant, is referred to as the capacity factor. The capacity factor is the amount of power produced in a given time period compared to what the generator could produce if it ran at full capacity for that time period. If a generator ran full out all the time, it would have a capacity factor of 100 percent, but no power plant runs all the time. In a good location, a wind turbine may produce on average a third of the maximum power of the generator, or have a 33 percent capacity factor. Typical capacity factors are 20 to 25 percent.

Is it windy enough?

Although the potential for wind power in Wisconsin is not as great as in other states, there are some places windy enough, especially in the eastern part of the state. As the technology improves, less windy areas may become viable. Wisconsin's 35 large wind turbines already in place produce enough power for 7,000 homes. Another 30 turbines are planned, and more could be built over the coming years.

Like wind power? Want to take it home? Find out how you can purchase wind power – or a whole turbine. (CONTINUE)