An Energy Efficiency Estimation Procedure for Small Wind Turbines at Chosen Locations in Poland

Contrary to the extensive amount of research on large wind turbines, substantial analyses of small wind turbines are still rare. In the present study, the wind energy potential of three locations in Poland is analyzed using real wind data from a five-year period and the parameters of the selected turbine model. Appropriate simulations are performed to assess the energy efficiency of the analyzed investments at a coastal, foothill, or lowland site. According to the results, the most favorable location for a small wind turbine is the coastal site (wind zone I). The payback time at this location is approximately 13 years, whereas the payback times at the other two analyzed are more than 3 times longer. The payback periods for the latter locations significantly exceed the estimated lifetime of the wind turbine, ruling out their economic viability. The cost of electricity generation varies greatly, from 0.16 EUR/kWh at the coastal location to 0.71 EUR/kWh at the lowland location. These results provide a reference for developing more efficient solutions, such as the use of a turbine with a shielded rotor, which can increase the power of the turbine by approximately 2.5 times.