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Parts of a Wind Turbine and Their Costs

During the 2000s, wind power technology and manufacturing became a billion-dollar business. As the appeal of greener technologies continues to develop, the marketability of mechanisms like wind turbines only increases as the same technologies lower production costs. The parts and costs associated with wind turbines are both given to consistent patterns.

  1. Identification

    • It is important to recognize that all model wind turbines are not the same. As stated by General Plastics, they can be composed of quite different "configurations and design elements, thus making them unique or easily distinguishable. Nonetheless, you can expect differing models or designs to have consistent similarities in their basic features and constituent parts, regardless of their respective sizes, applications or manufacturer.

    Basic Parts

    • The primary assembly of a wind turbine is composed of a rotor, hub and blades. The number of blades may vary but you frequently see three of them. The blades are attached to the hub, which is moved or spun by the rotor. The rotor is powered by a drive or power train assembly located behind. According to General Plastics, this drive train often consists of a "gear-box, generator, support bearings and connecting shafts among other hardware or machine parts. "

    Percentage Costs

    • Although parts for different models will show variation in cost, there are general consistencies in how principal part costs can be distributed percentage-wise. According to a report delivered by Princeton Energy Resources International to the U.S. Department of Energy, the respective costs of rotors, drive trains and turbine towers are comparable, each ranging between 25 percent and 40 percent of the total cost of the machine. However, rotors typically prove the most expensive component. This is because their proper functioning is the most critical to the overall operation of the turbine.

    Overall Costs and Applications

    • Unsurprisingly, the application or setting of the turbine will account for the cost ceiling. Windustry claims that the overall cost of an industrially based wind turbine system is just over $3 million dollars. Many residential models perform with average energy usage under 100 kilowatts per hour. This decreases the price to an average of $4,000. However, there are other considerations. That energy usage costs the residential owner more per unit, raising potential costs long-term to around $30,000 to $50,000. The industry is seeking to employ increasingly lightweight tower construction materials. Just how these innovations will affect parts costs remains to be seen.

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