Can You Build a Wind Farm on Your Land?

In a time of growing demand for renewable energy sources, there’s a lot to be gained from developing a wind farm on your property. But is your land right for the job?

Like solar farming, wind farming is the use of your land to farm energy, rather than crops. In this case, the energy is being sourced from wind turbines – a type of renewable power that currently provides about 10% of the electricity in the United States.

For those with land to spare, a wind farm could be a profitable investment. Before you go all in though, it helps to know whether your land is suitable for wind farming. Below, we’re exploring some of the top considerations to keep in mind if you’re interested in pursuing wind farming, including basic requirements. 

What is a Wind Farm?

A wind farm is a property dedicated to the production of wind energy. They’re easy to spot thanks to the usually dozens – or hundreds – of wind turbines scattered into the distance. 

Wind energy, the main product of a wind farm, is a type of solar energy. And while we usually associate wind farms with industrial use, citizen land owners can take advantage too by building small wind electric systems that support their personal needs much like solar panels would. 

What Are the Conditions Needed for Wind Farming?

Wind farms are expensive to set up and don’t work in every environment. Here are some of the factors that will determine whether your land is suitable.

Wind Quality

Wind, or at least enough of it to successfully create wind energy, isn’t quite as reliable a resource as solar. For that reason, you’re going to need wind, and lots of it, if you want to create a wind farm, regardless of size or purpose. A minimum average annual wind speed of nine miles per hour is ideal, but the windier the better. 

Grid or No Grid

It’s a lot easier and more cost-effective to create a grid-connected wind farm than one that operates off-grid. If your land doesn’t offer access to the utility grid, consider whether you have the space, means, and desire to create a hybrid wind-solar power system to ensure reliable energy output. 

Acreage and Layout

How big your property needs to be in order to support a wind farm depends on the amount of total energy you want to produce. Obviously, commercial wind farming will require significantly more land than personal wind farming, plus a layout that is well-suited to the requirements of setting up and maintaining multiple wind turbines. 

Zoning

Any time you’re looking for land for sale, it’s important that you do your due diligence in researching zoning restrictions and figuring out if you can use a property for your desired purpose. This is as true for wind farming as it is for anything else, with zoning specifications that include the ability to build structures at or above a certain height. Look into permitting requirements too and any other relevant laws or covenants. 

Is a wind farm in your future? Beyond having the right land for it, you also need to consider things like cost, environmental impact, and potential pushback from neighbors. With the right moving pieces in place though, you should be good to go ahead and start harvesting power and possibly income from wind energy.

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