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How much is a Wind Turbine likely to make me and over what period? UK
Will a Wind Turbine Turn a Profit?
As with other renewable technologies, wind turbines are eligible for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) which means that you can sell your excess electricity production to the grid. Whether you make any profit on your wind turbine energy production will depend on a wide range of factors, including:
- The size and potential output of your wind turbine.
- Its height – the general rule of thumb, up to certain limits, is that you should get an increase in power generation as hub height increases, though gains are site-specific rather than a fixed 1% per metre.
- The quality of the turbine components, initial installation costs and ongoing maintenance needs.
- The wind speed that your site generally gets.
- Distance from obstructions that could affect the wind flow, such as houses, trees or hills.
- Height above sea level may also be another factor that you need to consider.
- The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff available from your chosen energy supplier.
- Your own energy usage and how much excess you will be able to export to the grid.
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Domestic Wind Turbines:
A domestic turbine is a smaller system and hence has less output. In most cases it will enable you to reduce the amount you pay on energy bills but may not give you enough to profit from the Smart Export Guarantee, especially if you are opting for one that is mounted on your building. Ofgem estimates that the average household uses about 3,330 kWh of energy each year and a well-placed 2.5 kW wind turbine will certainly go some distance towards covering your electrical demands.
A domestic wind turbine is likely to cost around £7,000–£12,000 to install and, if you have the right situation (that is the right wind speed and location), you could see a production of around 4,000–4,500 kWh over the year.
What can I export on average from the Smart Export Guarantee?
For small wind turbines, the SEG rates generally range between 1p to 27p per kWh, depending on the supplier and specific tariff.
On average, a small domestic wind turbine that produces about 2,600 kWh annually (after self-consumption) could expect to earn:
- At the lowest rate of 1p per kWh: £26 per year
- At a moderate rate of 12p per kWh: £312 per year
- At the highest rate of 27p per kWh: £702 per year
One of the main advantages of wind power over solar is that it produces power both day and night and is more profitable over the winter months when winds are traditionally higher. This is particularly valuable if you have installed a larger turbine system for commercial purposes.
UK energy suppliers offering Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) rates for wind turbines:
| Energy Supplier | SEG Rate (p/kWh) | Tariff Name | Customer Requirement | Notes |
| Octopus Energy | ~29.4 (peak) | Intelligent Octopus Flux | Octopus customers with compatible battery | Time-of-use tariff — highest peak rates seen (~29p) |
| Octopus Energy | ~26.0 | Octopus Flux | Octopus customers with battery | Time-of-use tariff |
| OVO Energy | 20 | SEG Install Exclusive | OVO electricity & solar/battery | Conditions apply (installer linkage) |
| So Energy | 20 | So Bright | So Energy customers with battery | Higher “installed by” tariff |
| Good Energy | ~15 | Solar Savings Exclusive | Good Energy customers with battery | Customer tariff — varies by product |
| British Gas | 15.1 | Export and Earn Plus | British Gas electricity customers | Highest mainstream SEG rate confirmed |
| Octopus Energy | 15 | Outgoing Fixed | Octopus customers | Fixed-rate non-battery export |
| EDF Energy | 15 | Export 12m / Export Exclusive | EDF electricity customers | Typical fixed tariff offering ~15p |
| OVO Energy | 15 | OVO SEG tariff | OVO customers | Standard SEG for customers |
| Scottish Power | ~12 | SmartGen / SmartGen Premium | ScottishPower customers | Tiered tariffs (~12p on premium versions) |
| So Energy | 4.5 | So Export Flux | None | Lower variable export tariff |
| Octopus Energy | 4.1 | SEG Tariff | None | Standard open export tariff |
| OVO Energy | 4 | OVO SEG Tariff | None | Standard supplier export tariff |
| Good Energy | 4 | Export Only | None | Basic open export tariff |
| British Gas | 3.02 | Export and Earn Flex | None | Lower flex rate for non-customers |
| EDF | 3 | Export variable | None | Variable non-customer export tariff |
| Utilita | 3 | Smart Export Guarantee | None | Standard low export tariff |
| E.On Next | ~6–16.5 | Next Export / Next Export Exclusive | Mixed — varies by product | Some E.ON tariffs range from ~6p (open) up to ~16.5p for customer-linked tariffs |
| Utility Warehouse | 2 | UW Smart Export Guarantee | None | Basic standalone export tariff |
* This table is accurate to the best of our knowledge on 04/01/2026. The figures will change often so please check with your energy provider for up to date information.
Commercial Wind Turbines
The cost for a commercial wind turbine in the UK ranges from around £1.3 million to £2 million per MW installed, not including acquisition of the land. These costs include installation, connection to the UK grid, and may include maintenance arrangements over part of the lifespan of the system.
Offshore wind turbines are, understandably more expensive per MW installed. The initial outlay can reach as much as £5 million per MW installed!
The Feed-in tariff (closed)
The Feed-in Tariff scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2019. The information below is for reference only.
Below you can see a list for various wind turbines with Feed in Tariffs and profits, assuming the conditions are ideal.
| System size | Indicative system cost (incl. VAT @ 5%) | Approx. yearly system output* | Estimated first year FiT income bill savings** | Average break-even point | Income over 20 years*** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5kW | £7,000 | 2,600kWh | £479.83 | 14 years, 6 months | £9,596.60 |
| 2.5kW | £12,500 | 4,400kWh | £677.02 | 18 years, 5 months | £13,540.40 |
| 5kW | £23,500 | 8,900kWh | £1,304.99 | 18 years, 0 months | £26,099.80 |
| 10kW | £45,000 | 21,500kWh | £3,000.32 | 14 years, 11 months | £60,006.40 |
| 15kW | £70,000 | 36,000kWh | £4,618.80 | 15 years, 1 month | £92,376.76 |
*We have assumed the average UK wind speed of 5.6m/s for the purposes of these estimates. Actual system output is predicated upon the range of factors outlined above. Higher output turbines also tend to be mounted at greater heights, where wind speeds are higher.
** Assuming a 50% export/50% usage rate for systems up to 5k, 20% export rate for a 10kW system, and 12.5% for a 15kW system.
*** Figures shown exclude inflation and have been worked out to give the minimum expected yield so as to not provide misleading figures. An onsite survey over a period of time would more accurately provide an average wind speed measurement that would be closer to your actual expected ROI figures.
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