How much does an offshore wind turbine cost?

Large offshore turbines can cost tens of millions of dollars, with the most powerful 12 MW turbines reaching up to $400 million (≈12820.5 years of non-stop work at $15/hour - exceeding the time since the end of the last Ice Age) for manufacturing and installation.

How much does a wind farm cost?

The location of a wind farm can have a profound effect on cost. While a wind turbine in Europe or the United States can cost about $1 million per MW, turbines installed in countries like Brazil can be as cheap as $500,000 per MW. Once the turbines are erected, they must be wired to the electrical grid.

How much does a 12 MW wind turbine cost?

The most powerful 12 MW wind turbine costs up to $400 million to manufacture and install. Costs for utility-scale wind turbines can be broken down into three categories: manufacturing, transport and installation, and operations and maintenance.

How much does a wind turbine cost?

The single most expensive wind turbine component is the nacelle, which houses the gearbox, generator and control systems. Nacelles account for up to 30% of total turbine costs. Large multi-ton cast-iron nacelles cost over $1 million (≈32.1 years working without vacations at a $15/hour job) each.

What determines the cost of installing a wind turbine?

One factor—more than any other—determines the cost of installing a wind turbine; and that is whether it’s being installed on dry land (i.e. ‘onshore’), or if it’s being installed out in the ocean—as part of an array of wind turbines (i.e. an offshore wind farm.)

How much does an onshore wind project cost?

After factoring in construction costs for foundations, access roads, cabling, grid connections, permitting, and installation labor, the total installed cost per megawatt rises to between $3 million and $4 million (≈128.2 years of non-stop labor earning $15/hour) for a completed utility-scale onshore wind project.