How Much Power Does a Wind Turbine Produce?
In short: A modern 6 MW onshore turbine produces 15–20 million kWh per year depending on site — enough for roughly 5,000–7,000 households. The exact figure depends on rated power and full-load hours.
The simple formula
Annual yield [kWh] = rated power [kW] × full-load hours [h/year]
Example: 6,000 kW × 3,000 full-load hours = 18,000,000 kWh/year = 18 GWh.
Yield by turbine size
| Turbine | Full-load hours | Annual yield | Households* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy turbine 1.5 MW | 1,900 h | 2.9 GWh | ~1,000 |
| Modern 3 MW | 2,800 h | 8.4 GWh | ~3,000 |
| Modern 6 MW | 3,000 h | 18.0 GWh | ~6,000 |
| 6 MW prime coastal site | 3,800 h | 22.8 GWh | ~7,500 |
*at an average annual consumption of 3,000 kWh per household.
What are full-load hours?
The full-load hours are the calculated hours per year for which the turbine would have to run at full rated power to reach its actual annual yield. They condense wind resource, turbine type and availability into a single figure:
- Coast (SH, MV): 3,500–4,200 h
- Northern Germany inland: 2,800–3,500 h
- Low mountain ranges (Mittelgebirge): 2,300–2,800 h
- Southern Germany low-wind: 2,000–2,500 h
The full-load hours estimator provides a rough estimate for your site.
Frequently asked questions
How many households does a wind turbine supply?
A modern 6 MW turbine supplies, on a calculated basis, 5,000–7,000 households. Because wind does not blow constantly, this is an annual average, not continuous supply.
How much CO₂ does a wind turbine save?
For each kWh produced, roughly 400–600 g of CO₂ are avoided compared with the German electricity mix. An 18 GWh turbine therefore saves about 7,000–11,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
Does a wind turbine run around the clock?
No — only when there is enough wind. The onshore capacity factor is 25–40 %, meaning the turbine produces on average 25–40 % of its theoretical maximum output.
Power output by turbine size – rated power, full-load hours and households supplied