Yes—ROI is possible for a home wind turbine in India, but it is not automatic. Wind projects give good returns only when the site has strong, clean wind at the height you can install, and the turbine is mounted properly (usually on a tower, not a rooftop).
This post shows a simple way to check if ROI is realistic for your home—without depending on subsidies or marketing promises.
What ROI means for a home wind turbine
ROI (return on investment) is basically:
- How many rupees you save per year from the turbine’s electricity (kWh)
- Compared to how much you spent to install it (turbine + tower + electrical + foundation)
A turbine can spin every day and still give poor ROI if it produces low kWh. That’s why wind ROI is mainly a site-quality issue.
When wind ROI is actually possible (the “yes” conditions)
1) You have enough wind at real installation height
A practical benchmark used in India’s small wind programme guidance is:
- The site should preferably have an annual average wind speed of about 15 km/h (4.17 m/s) or above at 20 m height.
2) The airflow is clean (not blocked or turbulent)
The same guidance says the site should be free from obstacles like tall trees, high buildings, and transmission lines within about 100 m.
3) You can install it properly (tower beats rooftop)
It also clearly warns that aerogenerators should generally be avoided on rooftops, and if rooftop is used, safety/clearance/load capacity must be carefully checked by technical personnel.
If your only option is a rooftop corner in a dense area, ROI is usually weak.
The 4 numbers that decide your payback
To estimate payback, you only need these:
- Expected annual energy (kWh/year) from the turbine at your site
- Your effective electricity rate (₹/kWh) from your bill
- Total installed cost (₹) including tower/foundation
- Yearly maintenance cost (₹) (wind has moving parts)
Typical cost and output ranges (India planning references)
A WRI India issue brief (2024) reports supplier-informed planning numbers like:
- Cost of small wind turbines: ₹85,000 to ₹100,000 per kW
- Example support tower cost (18 m lattice tower): ~₹1,30,000
- Estimated annual energy yield: ~1,800 kWh per kW per year (for optimally sited cases)
It also notes that optimally sited small wind turbines can achieve about 6–8 years payback when electricity tariffs are above ₹7/kWh (stakeholder-reported).
Use these as planning references, not guarantees—your site can be better or worse.
How to calculate ROI (simple method)
Step 1: Estimate annual generation (kWh/year)
Best option: ask the supplier/installer for expected annual kWh based on your site wind and height.
If you need a starting point for a good site, the WRI planning estimate is:
- Annual kWh ≈ 1,800 × turbine size (kW)
Step 2: Find your real electricity rate (₹/kWh)
Use your bill:
- Effective ₹/kWh = Total bill (₹) ÷ Units used (kWh)
This is better than guessing tariffs because it includes your slab and fixed charges.
Step 3: Calculate yearly savings
- Savings (₹/year) = Annual kWh × Effective ₹/kWh
Step 4: Subtract maintenance
A simple way is to set aside 1–3% of project cost per year as a planning buffer (varies by turbine, site, and service support).
Step 5: Payback (years)
- Payback = Total installed cost ÷ (Savings − Maintenance)
Example ROI calculation (easy numbers)
Assumptions (illustration only):
- 5 kW turbine
- Turbine cost: ₹90,000/kW → ₹4,50,000
- Tower cost: ₹1,30,000
- Total cost: ₹5,80,000
- Annual energy (good site): 1,800 × 5 = 9,000 kWh/year
- Maintenance buffer: 2%/year → ₹11,600/year
Now check payback at different bill rates:
- If your effective rate is ₹7/kWh
- Savings: 9,000 × 7 = ₹63,000
- Net: ₹63,000 − ₹11,600 = ₹51,400
- Payback: ₹5,80,000 ÷ ₹51,400 ≈ 11.3 years
- If your effective rate is ₹10/kWh
- Savings: ₹90,000
- Net: ₹90,000 − ₹11,600 = ₹78,400
- Payback: ₹5,80,000 ÷ ₹78,400 ≈ 7.4 years
This shows why WRI’s 6–8 year payback can happen on strong sites with higher effective tariffs, but weaker sites/rates can stretch payback.
How to check wind potential without wasting money
1) Start with NIWE wind maps (free screening)
NIWE’s 20 m wind map is meant to support preliminary site assessment.
Use it to screen your area before talking brands.
2) Do an obstacle check at your property
For small wind, the site should be clear of major obstacles within about 100 m.
3) Don’t assume rooftop wind = good wind
Rooftop installs are often risky and are generally advised to be avoided unless carefully engineered and checked.
4) If the site is borderline, verify wind properly
If you’re near the minimum wind benchmark, small differences decide ROI. In that case, treat wind checking as part of the project—not an optional step.
Hybrid can improve usefulness (solar + wind)
WRI notes that in India, the strong wind period often matches weaker solar periods, so a mix of 80–85% solar with 15–20% wind is generally preferred based on current costs.
This can improve battery charging and seasonal stability—but wind still must pass the site checks.
Final answer: Is ROI possible?
Yes—ROI is possible in India when:
- wind is strong enough at usable height (example benchmark: ~4.17 m/s at 20 m),
- the site is open and not blocked (obstacles cleared within ~100 m),
- rooftop compromises are avoided,
- and your bill rate + installed cost support the math (WRI cites ~6–8 years payback for optimally sited turbines at tariffs >₹7/kWh).
CTA (simple and useful for readers)
If you want a quick “ROI reality check,” collect:
- Your last 12 months usage (kWh/month)
- Your average bill (₹/month) → calculate effective ₹/kWh
- Your location pin (for NIWE map check)
- Whether a tower is feasible (space + safety)
Then you can estimate annual kWh and do a clean payback calculation before buying anything.