What kind of location is suitable for a small or micro-scale wind turbine?

Many residential areas are not suitable for wind turbines as buildings and trees shade the wind and create turbulence which can reduce the efficiency and lifespan of a turbine considerably. Generally speaking, the ideal location is on top of a high mast on a south westerly facing hill with gently sloping sides surrounded by clear countryside which is free from obstructions such as trees, houses or other buildings. Here the wind flows relatively smoothly and steadily enabling it to drive wind turbines with greater efficiency.

Wind turbines operate less efficiently in areas where obstacles interfere with wind flows. It is very important to understand and account for these reduced efficiencies when considering the use and economics of wind turbines in such areas.However, such areas, with less than ideal aspect and local conditions, may, with a good quality turbine system, have a sufficient wind resource to make an installation worthwhile. The predominant and most energetic winds in Ireland typically come from the southwest and west, so it is especially important that there are few or no obstacles to the turbine in these directions.

Ideally, the turbine should be 10m above any obstacle within 100m. As a rule of thumb, a wind generator should be installed no closer to an obstacle than at least ten times the object's height, and on the down wind side. The preferred distance is twenty times the height of the object.