How is Wind Turbine Power Calculated?
Wind energy converts aerodynamic kinetic energy into electricity. Because turbine power is proportional to the cube of wind speed (v³), doubling wind speed yields eight times the power output.
The fundamental power formula is: P = ½ × ρ × A × v³ × Cp, where ρ is air density (1.225 kg/m³), A is swept area (π×r²), v is wind speed (m/s), and Cp is power coefficient. The theoretical Betz Limit is 0.593, while modern commercial turbines achieve 35–50% efficiency.
Rotor Diameter Impact: Swept area scales with the square of rotor diameter (d²); doubling rotor diameter quadruples intercepted wind area and power production.
This calculator provides preliminary feasibility estimates for wind energy students, project planners, and renewable engineers.