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News
1/19/2010
Wind Generator Investment Calculator
Is a Wind Turbine a Good Investment For Me?
Many co-op members in Kansas are interested in installing small renewable energy systems – particularly wind turbines – at their homes, businesses, or farms. But they’re looking for reliable answers to two questions: How much money can I save on future electric bills? Will the savings justify my initial investment?
In response, Kansas Electric Cooperatives (KEC) has posted a tool (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet) on their web site to help with these critical calculations. Dubbed the Small Wind Cash Flow Model, the tool enables consumers to input variables such as construction cost, grants, debt financing, operation and maintenance expenses, generation, consumption, retail electric rates, avoided cost, and project life.
Once the numbers are entered, a prospective wind turbine owner can determine annual cash flows and the net present value from the investment under either a net billing or net metering arrangement.
The Small Wind Cash Flow Model can be access through KEC’s web-site at www.kec.org/smallwindcashflow.aspx.
