Wind Turbine Profit Calculator
Analyze the financial performance of a wind turbine by combining capacity factor, energy price, maintenance costs, and financing assumptions. Understand yearly cash flow and long-term project viability.
Modern onshore turbines range from 2.5–5 MW.
Typical onshore values: 30–45%. Offshore: 45–60%.
Use PPA or feed-in tariff price; wholesale averages 4–7 cents.
Include turbine, foundation, grid connection, and soft costs.
Industry averages: 1.5–3% of installed cost per year.
Annual energy
9,986,400 kWh
Annual revenue
$549,252
Annual O&M cost
$90,000
Net annual profit
$459,252
Simple payback
9.8 years
LCOE
4.83 ¢/kWh
How to Use This Calculator
Input turbine performance
Enter the nameplate capacity and expected capacity factor based on site wind data or manufacturer estimates.
Add pricing and cost assumptions
Include the PPA price or wholesale market rate, installation cost, and expected maintenance percentage.
Set financing parameters
Adjust project lifetime and discount rate to evaluate levelized cost of energy and payback metrics.
Formula
Annual Energy = Capacity × 1000 × 8760 × Capacity Factor
Net Profit = Revenue − O&M
Payback = Installation Cost ÷ Net Profit
LCOE = (Capital × CRF + O&M) ÷ Annual Energy
Example: 3 MW turbine × 8760 × 38% = 10.0 GWh/year. At $0.055/kWh, annual revenue ≈ $548k. With 2% O&M ($90k), net profit is $458k and simple payback is about 9.8 years.
Capital recovery factor (CRF) converts upfront cost into an annualized payment based on discount rate and lifetime.
About the Wind Turbine Profit Calculator
Wind projects require careful financial modeling to secure investment. This calculator provides a quick view of cash flows, payback, and levelized cost of energy, bridging technical performance with economic outcomes.
When to Use This Calculator
- Pre-feasibility analysis: Evaluate project economics before detailed engineering.
- Investor presentations: Summarize expected returns with transparent assumptions.
- Community wind projects: Communicate financial viability to stakeholders.
- Educational case studies: Illustrate renewable project finance concepts in class.
Why Use Our Calculator?
- ✅ Holistic view: Combines generation, revenue, costs, and financing.
- ✅ Customizable: Adjust to match local PPA prices and maintenance contracts.
- ✅ LCOE insight: Benchmark against other generation technologies.
- ✅ Fast iteration: Update values to run sensitivity analyses on key drivers.
Common Applications
Developers: Provide quick business-case assessments to partners.
Policy makers: Compare incentives and tariff levels needed for project viability.
Students: Practice renewable finance modeling without complex spreadsheets.
Tips for Best Results
- Calibrate capacity factor using wind speed distribution and turbine power curves.
- Include decommissioning costs and salvage value in more detailed models.
- Account for tax credits or renewable energy certificates separately.
- Run scenarios with different discount rates to reflect financing terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this include curtailment or downtime?
The capacity factor input should reflect all downtime, curtailment, and availability constraints.
How do tax incentives affect payback?
Subtract incentives from the installation cost or model them as additional revenue to shorten payback.
Is financing cost included?
The discount rate and capital recovery factor approximate financing and cost of capital. For detailed models, include debt service schedules.
Can I use this for offshore turbines?
Yes, but adjust capacity factor, installation cost, and maintenance percentage to reflect offshore conditions.