Distributed wind turbines can be connected to an electricity delivery system or used in off-grid applications to serve on-site energy demand or local loads on the same distribution network. The Distributed Wind Energy Resource Hub is designed to help anyone interested in harnessing the power of local, reliable, and resilient energy in residential, commercial, industrial, government, institutional, utility, community, and agricultural applications. It serves as a directory of curated, targeted links to resources, including general distributed wind energy information, federal project funding opportunities, U.S. technical assistance opportunities, as well as models, tools, and toolkits.
Overview
Distributed wind turbines can be connected to an electricity delivery system or used in off-grid applications to serve on-site energy demand or local loads on the same distribution network. Wind turbines used as distributed energy resources can range in size from a few hundred watts for an isolated minigrid, to kilowatts for a single residence or small business, to multimegawatts to power manufacturing facilities or other nearby loads. Distributed wind energy can be used in residential, commercial, industrial, government, institutional, utility, community, and agricultural applications, diversifying local energy sources to help provide renewable energy while increasing power system reliability and resilience.
Today’s advancements in distributed wind turbine technology represent a significant leap forward from previous iterations, largely attributed to substantial investments and dedicated efforts through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Competitiveness Improvement Project. Established wind turbine manufacturers and improved technology help support distributed wind energy’s role in facilitating energy transitions for communities.
This resource hub is designed to help anyone interested in harnessing the power of distributed wind. It contains curated links to resources, including:
General Distributed Wind Information
Review our page on distributed wind energy and the Department of Energy's How Do Wind Turbines Work? and How Distributed Wind Works.
See Frequently Asked Questions on Small Distributed Wind Systems or browse the Small Wind Guidebook for consumer information on small wind installations (both distributed and grid-connected).
Case studies can help illustrate many distributed wind applications as well as project developers' experiences and lessons learned. Explore an interactive animation and read about several applications in the following case studies:
- From DOE, including the Distributed Wind Photo Gallery.
- From the Electric Cooperative and Rural Public Power District, published as part of its Rural Area Distributed Wind Integration Network Development project, describing how electric cooperatives and rural public power districts deploy or interconnect distributed wind resources.
According to the DOE Distributed Wind Market Report, more than 1,000 megawatts of wind energy capacity have been installed in distributed wind applications across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.
According to The Distributed Wind Energy Futures Study, states in the Midwest, Heartland, Pacific, and Northeast regions have significant distributed wind potential. The report also found that significant opportunities exist to expand distributed wind in disadvantaged communities, particularly behind-the-meter deployments in Texas, Montana, Michigan, and New Mexico.
The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory maintains The Distributed Wind Project Database, which tracks distributed wind projects in the United States.
The Kodiak Electric Association installed wind turbines to help meet the renewable power goals of Kodiak Island, Alaska. The turbines are integrated into the community’s isolated grid system.Photo from Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Project Funding Opportunities
Review the following resources for funding opportunities, including:
- The The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information on incentives relevant to that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Interested parties can search by Zip code to learn about programs in their area.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy For America Program (REAP) currently offers loan guarantees for energy projects for rural small businesses and agricultural producers in communities of 50,000 residents or less. Distributed wind energy projects are often eligible for this funding.
The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency compiles state and local funding opportunities. Search for wind energy opportunities and filter by zip code; note that the database does not identify funding specific to distributed wind energy.
Project Site Research
Prior to assessing a local wind resource, someone interested in distributed wind energy may wish to use wind maps to conservatively estimate the wind resource at the wind turbine’s hub height (the distance from the ground to the middle of the turbine's rotor that connects the blades). Although these maps do not provide a high resolution of specific site features, they can provide a general indication of good or poor wind resources. DOE’s WINDExchange offers wind resource maps for distributed wind projects at 30-, 40-, 50-, and 60-meter hub heights. New to wind resource maps? Watch A Tutorial for Understanding Land-Based and Offshore Wind Resource Maps.
The Wind Integration National Dataset Toolkit includes meteorological conditions from computer model output and calculated wind turbine power for more than 126,000 sites in the continental United States for the years 2007–2013. These data can help in estimating power production from a planned distributed wind energy project.
WindWatts for Distributed Wind (TAP) seeks to improve distributed wind resource assessments using modern computational tools and data. It aims to develop a simple tool for cost-effectively and accurately assessing wind resources without having to physically take direct measurements in the field.
In addition to economic and demographic data, the Distributed Wind Explorer includes existing wind energy installations, which can indicate a good wind resource or an opportunity to access existing data from nearby projects to inform development decisions.
Certifying a small or medium wind turbine model demonstrates that the turbine model meets performance, durability, and quality requirements, giving customers greater confidence in the products they purchase. As part of annual DOE wind energy market report research, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory tracks certified small and medium wind turbines.
As of January 2015, to be eligible to receive the small wind Business Energy Investment Tax Credit, small wind turbines must meet the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Small Wind Turbine Performance and Safety Standard 9.1-2009 or the International Electrotechnical Commission 61400-1, 61400-11, and 61400-12 standards. These standards address power performance, structural design, safety, and acoustic sound requirements. The following table provides a summary of current certified wind turbines and their standards.
Table 1. Certified Small Wind Turbines as of July 2025
Applicant Turbine Model Date of Initial Certification Certification Standard Kodair Wind Designs Ltd. KW 30 3/12/2025 ACP 101-1 Kodair Wind Designs Ltd. KW 20 2/20/2025 ACP 101-1 Bergey Windpower Company LLC Excel 10 11/16/2011 AWEA 9.1 Bergey Windpower Company LLC Excel 15 2/5/2021 AWEA 9.1 Eveready Diversified Products (Pty) Ltd. Kestrel e400nb 2/14/2013 AWEA 9.1 SkyWind Energy GmbH SkyWind NG 6/20/2025 ACP 101-1 HI-VAWT Technology Corporation / Colite Technologies DS3000 5/10/2019 AWEA 9.1 SD Wind Energy, Ltd. SD6 6/17/2019 AWEA 9.1 Wind Resource, LLC Skystream 3.7 4/12/2023 AWEA 9.1 The Small Wind Certification Council provides a directory of certified turbines; users can also search this directory for wind turbine models with applications in process.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory published a report titled Distributed Wind Certification Best Practices Guideline, which attempts to simplify the certification process by organizing available information and guiding the user to the applicable set of requirements.
Construction crews work to install a Bergey Windpower Co. Excel 15 wind turbine at NREL’s distributed wind site on the Flatirons Campus near Boulder, Colorado.Photo by Joe DelNero, NRELWind energy ordinances adopted by counties, towns, and other types of municipalities regulate aspects of wind projects such as their location, permitting process, and construction. Ordinances may also address issues of community impact such as land use, noise standards, and safety. DOE’s WINDExchange hosts an ordinances database, but it is not exhaustive. Search the database according to large or small wind turbines and by ordinance elements (e.g., turbine height, sound standards). Note that ordinances may be different for distributed wind turbines.
Search the local county’s website to see if wind ordinances are available for viewing.
DOE will soon fund an effort to advance distributed wind deployment by improving permitting processes to make this renewable energy source more accessible to communities. More details will be provided here when available.
This list of Distributed Wind Installers is compiled for consumers' reference but does not represent an endorsement of any installer.
Installing distributed wind energy in a community can offer many benefits, including workforce opportunities, tourism, energy independence and the potential to lower utilities costs or even profit off wind power.
The Microgrids, Infrastructure Resilience, and Advanced Controls Launchpad: Final Report evaluated how U.S. communities can safely, effectively, and efficiently integrate distributed wind energy into local grids.
The Small Community Wind Handbook and Large Community Wind Handbook provide more information on small and large wind community wind projects.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Energy Technologies Office, the Rural Area Distributed Wind Integration Network Development (RADWIND) Project produced Distributed Wind for Electric Cooperatives.
The RADWIND report Distributed Wind Project Development Practices in Rural Electric Cooperative Service Areas is designed to support electric cooperatives and other rural utilities as they explore distributed wind project deployments. The report explains the processes for screening, developing, and financing projects.
The on-demand course, Selecting, Implementing, and Funding Distributed Wind Systems in Federal Facilities, explains how and where distributed wind energy systems could be installed at federal sites. The training includes an overview of what distributed wind is and covers the wind-specific issues that need to be addressed to proceed through the Federal Energy Management Program's recommended project development and implementation process (i.e., what is needed to go from an initial screening to assessing procurement options).
Another training available through the Federal Energy Management Program, Distributed Wind for Federal Agencies, demonstrates how to use publicly available wind resource assessment screening tools and locate other distributed wind tools and resources.
Access to both trainings requires creating a free account. Some of the materials will be of interest to anyone planning a distributed wind energy project.
Is Distributed Wind Right for My Local Government Facilities? This PowerPoint presentation from PNNL provides an overview of distributed wind technologies, benefits, applications, and considerations so that community leaders can take the first steps to investigate whether distributed wind is right for them.
Is Distributed Wind Right for My Farm or Rural Business? This PowerPoint provides an overview of distributed wind technologies, benefits, applications, and considerations so that farmers and rural business owners can take the first steps to investigate whether distributed wind is right for them.
Technical Assistance Opportunities
The USDA and DOE launched the Rural and Agricultural Income & Savings from Renewable Energy (RAISE) initiative to build a network of trusted partners, such as rural electric cooperatives, agricultural associations, farmers unions, and financial services providers. The trusted partners will in turn provide education, outreach, research, technical assistance to small- and medium-scale farm owners and support the development of new business models that deliver economic benefits to rural and agricultural entities.
What Resources Are Available to Agricultural Businesses and Farmers?
Explore a slide deck from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to see if distributed wind is right for your farm or rural business.
Use the National Laboratory of the Rockies' Residential Energy Cost Estimator to determine your annual residential energy use, especially if you have a residence co-located with a business and electricity usage is not separately metered.
Near-Term Needs
The Energy to Communities (C2C) program connects local governments, electric utilities, community-based groups, and others with experts from across DOE's national laboratory complex and their customized, cutting-edge analysis and technical support. C2C offers three levels of technical engagement to support community energy goals. For near-term needs, Expert Match can provide up to 60 hours of assistance over a 2- to 3-month period.
Longer-Term Support
DOE offers free technical assistance through a variety of programs, including:
- The Office of Indian Energy, which offers technical assistance for tribal energy projects to federally recognized Indian Tribes, including Alaska Native regional and village corporations, and tribal entities.
State, Local, and Tribal Government Technical Support Services are available from the National Laboratory of the Rockies when technical assistance is not available through existing federally supported programs.
Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnerships provide direct technical assistance to industrial facilities and other large energy users with identifying and implementing technology options, such as distributed wind turbines, for achieving site-specific energy objectives.
The Division of Energy and Mineral Development provides technical assistance and consulting to eligible American Indians and Alaska Natives at no cost. Wind projects are included.
The following resources are specific to remote and island communities; be sure to also review the resources in the previous section, titled Who can help my community or Tribe determine if distributed wind energy is right for us?
DOE's Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project works with remote and island communities seeking to transform their energy systems and increase energy resilience.
Energy Improvement in Rural or Remote Areas provides no-cost technical assistance to communities and organizations interested in energy improvements in rural or remote areas.
The Energy Ready Distributed Wind Smart program, partnered by DOE's National Laboratory of the Rockies, recognizes communities that have taken key steps to accelerate distributed wind energy and distributed market growth by:
- Reducing soft (nonhardware) costs (such as permitting, inspection, installation and customer acquisition costs)
- Developing and sharing best practices in zoning, planning, inspection, community engagement, and financing.
The program offers two forms of support, which are:
- No-cost technical assistance to help local governments follow national best practices to expand distributed wind energy use in their jurisdictions.
- Recognition and celebration for communities with designations of Bronze, Silver, and Gold.
This program is not currently offering designation or technical assistance to new communities. Stay updated.
The Utility and Grid Operator Technical Assistance program provides technical assistance to:
- Municipal utilities
- Cooperative utilities
- Investor-owned utilities
- Regional transmission organizations
- Independent system operators.
Utility and grid operator technical assistance is provided along three pathways: Rolling Technical Assistance, Key Assist, and Interconnection Assistance. The Rolling Technical Assistance pathway may be of particular interest for the distributed wind energy community given its focus area on distributed energy resource planning.
Technical assistance through these programs is provided by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and Grid Deployment Office through several national laboratories, including the National Laboratory of the Rockies, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, and Argonne National Laboratory.
Models, Tools, and Toolkits
Enter an address in the Distributed Wind Explorer and click the behind-the-meter or front-of-meter tab to view average breakeven costs.
The WindWatts project aims to develop a simple tool for cost-effectively and accurately assessing wind resources without taking direct measurements in the field. Improving the accuracy and reducing the cost of desktop, or virtual, wind resource assessments will help make distributed wind energy technologies more accessible to communities and businesses.
The levelized cost of energy calculator provides a simple way to calculate a metric that encompasses capital costs, operations and maintenance, performance, and fuel costs of renewable energy technologies.
REopt® is a techno-economic decision support platform used to optimize energy systems for buildings, campuses, communities, microgrids, and more.
The Jobs and Economic Development Impacts Wind model estimates the economic impacts of constructing and operating power generation plants at the local and state levels.
The Distributed Generation Market Demand (dGen™) model simulates customer adoption of distributed energy resources for residential, commercial, and industrial entities in the United States or other countries through 2050.
The Cost of Renewable Energy Spreadsheet Tool (CREST) contains economic, cash-flow models designed to assess project economics, design cost-based incentives, and evaluate the impact of state and federal support structures on renewable energy.
The System Advisor Model (SAM) is a performance and financial model designed to facilitate decision-making for people involved in the renewable energy industry by predicting performance. Its cash flow models are appropriate for distributed energy projects that buy and sell electricity at retail rates and for power generation projects that sell power at a price negotiated through a power purchase agreement. The model calculates the cost of generating electricity based on information provided about a project’s location, installation and operating costs, type of financing, applicable tax credits and incentives, and system specifications.
More information
Garbe J.T., D.C. Preziuso, K.M. Parker, A.L. White, M.P. Moncheur de Rieudotte, and J. Wells-Driscoll. 2024. Journey Mapping Distributed Wind Deployment: Installer Perspectives. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
This work uses journey maps to assess the deployment of distributed wind technologies through the perspective of installers. Journey mapping is a human-centered design method that chronologically traces processes from the perspective of those who participate in them.
Parker K.M., L.A. Esaki-Kua, and D.C. Preziuso. 2024. Towards a Workforce Roadmap for Distributed Wind: Phase 1 – Identifying Needs and Barriers. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
This report initiates the phased development of a distributed wind workforce roadmap to provide a foundation for roadmap development.
Publication number DOE/GO-102024-6157
By Ruth Baranowski and Suzanne MacDonald at NREL and Danielle Preziuso at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Wind Energy Technologies Office.
This work was authored [in part] by the National Laboratory of the Rockies for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), operated under Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308. Funding provided by the U.S. Department of Energy. The views expressed in the article do not necessarily represent the views of the DOE or the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the U.S. Government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this work, or allow others to do so, for U.S. Government purposes.
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