Wind Power
How do residential wind turbines work?
A wind turbine collects kinetic energy from the wind and converts it to electricity that is compatible with a home’s electrical system. Typically the turbine is installed on top of a tall tower to clear any obstructions in the area.
Today the most popular type of system is called a grid-intertie system where power from the wind turbine and the electrical utility both power the home. If the wind speeds are below cut-in speed (7-10 mph) there will be no output from the turbine and all of the needed power is purchased from the utility. As wind speeds increase, turbine output increases and this power used in your home. Power pulled from the utility is decreased during this period. When the turbine produces more power than the house needs, the extra electricity is sold to the utility. All of this is done automatically. There are no batteries in a modern residential wind system.