Wind turbine blades are designed with efficiency in mind. The ratio between the speed of the wind and the speed of the blade tips is called tip speed ratio.
High efficiency 3-blade-turbines have tip speed/wind speed ratios of 6 to 7.
Browse through to find your high efficiency, low cost wind turbine blade.
 Clearance 1kW Wind Turbine Generator 24V 5 Blade Hybrid $999.99 |
 6 wind turbine blades proven durable MADE IN USA $600.00 |
 1000W Wind Turbine Generator DIY Kit Turbine Blades $589.75 |
 Wind Turbine Generator 7 Blade 600 WATT 24volt $429.99 |
 Wind Turbine Generator 7 Blade 600 WATT 12volt Complete Wind Turbine $429.99 |
 Wind Turbine Generator 5 Blade 500 Watt 24 Volt $399.99 |
Modern wind turbines are designed to spin at varying speeds (a consequence of their generator design, see above). Use of aluminum and composite materials in their blades has contributed to low rotational inertia, which means that newer wind turbines can accelerate quickly if the winds pick up, keeping the tip speed ratio more nearly constant. Operating closer to their optimal tip speed ratio during energetic gusts of wind allows wind turbines to improve energy capture from sudden gusts that are typical in urban settings.
In contrast, older style wind turbines were designed with heavier steel blades, which have higher inertia, and rotated at speeds governed by the AC frequency of the power lines. The high inertia buffered the changes in rotation speed and thus made power output more stable.