Small-Scale Wind Turbine Energy Production in an Urban Environment

Abstract

In this study, a commercial small-scale wind turbine (400 W, horizontal-axis wind turbine) is installed in an urban environment. A custom-built current and voltage monitoring system is developed to record the turbine’s power and energy production. The design and implementation of this system are presented in this study. Urban environments contain various obstacles and are generally not favourable for wind power generation. In this study, we investigate the realistic energy production potential of such a small-scale wind turbine under urban conditions. Windiness varies substantially in these areas, and significant fluctuations can occur within a single day. Our results show that a small-scale wind turbine with a nominal power of 400 W can produce approximately 10–15 Wh per day under favourable wind conditions. The measured peak power is around 85 W, which is considerably lower than the turbine’s nominal rating. Unlike manufacturer specifications and simulation-based studies, this study presents real-world measured power and energy data from an urban pico wind turbine installation.