Running a Wind Farm: How Much Does a Wind Turbine Cost?

Are you interested in running a wind farm? It doesn’t matter whether you’ve already set your plans in motion or simply want to know “how much does a wind turbine cost?”. This in-depth guide will answer all your burning questions.

Setting up a wind farm means navigating a sea of information, advice and data – and that can feel overwhelming.

To help you out, I’ve put together a clear and concise guide on running a wind farm that covers exactly how much the average wind turbine costs.

Plus, I’ll run through maintenance costs and those sneaky hidden expenses that you might not have previously overlooked.

With all this knowledge, you’ll be better equipped to decide whether investing in one (or several) wind turbines is the right financial move for you.

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Wind Farm?

To keep things simple, let’s start with the basics.

The cost of running a wind farm depends largely on its size.

Specifically, the number of turbines you’re installing, the size of them and whether they’re commercial or designed for home use.

Beyond the turbines themselves, you’ll also need to consider installation costs, insurance, maintenance fees and any expert consulting fees you might incur along the way.

The initial installation costs and expert fees will typically be paid before your wind farm is up and running and you may also need to pay for consultation costs to solicitors, land agents and accountants during its lifetime.

But overall, the biggest ongoing expense that you’ll incur from running your wind farm will come from maintenance costs.

And that’s not just about servicing, repairs and spare parts!

It also encompasses:

• Insurance
• Admin costs
• Power to run the project (though this would often fall to a site operator)
• Operation costs
• Grid connection costs
• Feed in Tariff costs
• Decommissioning costs

And the longer your wind farm is operational, the more likely you are to experience component failures that can be expensive.

How Much Does a Wind Turbine Cost?

The cost of a wind turbine varies depending on who manufactures and installs it.

But generally, your average 15 kW turbine will cost around £70,000, while commercial 3.5 MW turbines can cost upwards of £3.13 million!

Generally, the larger your wind turbine is, the more energy it can generate.

While this may not translate into immediate profits, the investment should pay off over time.

When building an average turbine, you will typically need to source parts from multiple suppliers.

In some cases, you may be able to secure a supply agreement with a specific turbine manufacturer, who will provide everything from tower sections to blades and the nacelle.

Getting all of the parts together can take up to 12 months. During this time, you can bring in a construction crew to landscape the area and begin the turbine-building process.

How Much Does a Wind Turbine Cost (Blades)?

If you didn’t know, rotor blades are the most expensive component of a wind turbine.

They can account for up to 60 per cent of the total cost of an average turbine, with the transformer, generator and power converter making up the rest.

And that’s before factoring in grid connection and civil works required for construction.

The costs vary depending on location and fluctuations in commodity prices, such as steel.

It’s worth knowing that all the materials required to construct a wind turbine are priced separately, with the nacelle, rotor and turbine foundation making up the majority of the cost.

If the price of any key construction material were to increase significantly, the overall cost of a turbine would increase too.

How Much Does a Wind Turbine Cost to Run?

While most of your investment in a turbine will go towards building it – you also need to consider annual running costs!

According to Renewables First, many wind turbine manufacturers offer long-term warranty and maintenance packages that last for between five and 15 years.

This should give you a decent support system throughout the early years of your turbine’s life.

If you’re wondering exactly how much your average 100 kW or 3.5 MW turbine costs to run, I’ve put together a handy table to break it down for you.

As you can see, larger wind turbines cost significantly more to run than smaller turbines.

But, as larger wind farms typically have bigger budgets and more scope for returns, the investment in maintenance is usually well worth it.

It’s also key to note that these costs wouldn’t typically fall on a landowner unless they were self-developing a project.

How Much Does a Wind Turbine Make a Year?

It’s tricky to say exactly how much a wind turbine makes each year. It depends on factors like on-site consumption and electricity price fluctuations.

In recent years, the soaring cost of energy (and the fact that it’s linked to the price of gas) has made wind energy more profitable than ever.

On average, a 3.5 MW turbine can generate between £2,790,000 to £7,100,000 annually. This is based on 100 per cent on-site consumption and an electricity price rise of 3 per cent.

If all the energy is exported to the grid, earnings would be lower, at around £1,570,000.

So, if you have multiple wind turbines on your land, you could be looking at a significant income (once costs have been deducted!).

FAQs

If this article has piqued your interest, you might want to learn a bit more about average wind energy costs and potential returns.

After all, if you’re wondering, “How much does a wind turbine cost?”, you’ll likely also want to know what kind of returns to expect.

Below, I’ve answered some of the most common questions that may have crossed your mind while reading this guide.

How much does it cost to buy a small wind turbine?

As I briefly mentioned earlier, a 1.5 kW free-standing turbine (which is relatively small) will set you back around £7,000.

There’s no guarantee on how much energy it will produce as this depends on wind speeds and altitude. But, generally, it may return around 2,600 kW per year.

If you’re planning to buy a roof-mounted wind turbine, you can expect to pay approximately £2,000.

Is wind cheaper than solar?

Wind plants are generally more efficient and cost-effective than solar plants.

Overall, wind and solar energy are the cheapest renewable energy sources, which makes them fantastic alternatives to fossil fuels.

Does a wind turbine pay for itself?

An average wind turbine will pay for itself in a few years (usually around five or six).

After this period, your initial investment will be recouped and you can start turning a profit.

Do you need planning permission to install a wind turbine in the UK?

You certainly need planning permission to install a wind turbine in the UK, but it’s slowly becoming easier to get.

Previously, local authorities would need to outline suitable sites for turbines and local communities would need to green-light each project.

With Labour’s July 2024 announcement, planning approval is set to return to national control. So, it should be easier for developers to get planning permission without the risk of community opposition blocking proposals.

How much do farmers get paid for wind turbines in the UK?

Although it will always depend on the size of the turbines, the average commercial turbine can earn as much as £1.25 million a year gross (or more).

If landowners are paid via a specific payment arrangement, they can receive up to 20 per cent of the overall income from the project.

I Hope That This Article Has Answered the Question, “How Much Does a Wind Turbine Cost?”

If you’re looking to get a renewable energy project off the ground or want more insight into your current site, we can help.

Our Lumify SiteScan™ tool provides a comprehensive analysis of competing sites across the UK, ensuring you secure the fairest payments possible.

So, get in touch today.

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