Turbine type · HAWT

Horizontal axis small wind turbine

Three blades, upwind rotor, passive furling, direct-drive generator. The configuration that produces the most energy per square metre of swept area — and the one we build in seven frame sizes.

A horizontal axis machine keeps its rotor facing the wind on a yaw bearing, with a tail vane doing the steering. Three blades give the best balance between starting torque and tip-speed efficiency, and an upwind rotor avoids the tower shadow that makes downwind machines pulse once per revolution.

The trade-off is that the yaw bearing and the blade pitch (or furling hinge) are moving parts in the weather. We keep the count low: one yaw bearing, three blade roots, one furling hinge, and nothing else that needs grease.

Compare at a glance

Criterion	Advantage	Practical meaning
Efficiency at 5–8 m/s	Highest of the three types	Best choice for open sites with a dominant wind direction
Starting torque	Moderate — needs 2.5–3 m/s	Fine for battery charging, less so for very gusty urban roofs
Tower loading	Higher overturning moment	Needs a proper foundation and guy wires
Noise	Low at the blade tips, some mechanical hum	Mount at least 10 m from a dwelling

Models in this family

300 W small wind turbine

1.2 m · 300 W · ≈ 600 kWh

500 W small wind turbine

1.8 m · 500 W · ≈ 1,000 kWh

1 kW small wind turbine

2.4 m · 1 kW · ≈ 2,000 kWh

2 kW small wind turbine

3.2 m · 2 kW · ≈ 4,000 kWh

3 kW small wind turbine

3.8 m · 3 kW · ≈ 6,000 kWh

5 kW small wind turbine

5.0 m · 5 kW · ≈ 10,000 kWh

10 kW small wind turbine

7.8 m · 10 kW · ≈ 20,000 kWh

Frequently asked questions

HAWT or VAWT — which should I buy?

If you have open land, a dominant wind direction and can put the hub 10 m above obstructions, buy horizontal axis: it makes 20–35 % more energy for the same swept area. Choose vertical axis only where wind direction is chaotic or the site is urban.

Do horizontal axis turbines need to face the wind?

Yes, and they do it themselves: a tail vane yaws the nacelle passively, no motor or controller involved. Below 3 m/s the vane has enough authority to hold the rotor into the wind.

What maintenance does a HAWT need?

An annual check: blade bolt torque, yaw bearing play, guy wire tension, slip ring inspection on the 5 kW and above, and a controller firmware check.