It is recommended that a maintenance plan be established before purchasing a small wind system. As with all mechanical systems, a wind turbine and balance of systems will need to be maintained to ensure a continuous level of high performance throughout its lifespan. The VWEC/JMU small wind economic model on this tools page incorporates a conservative maintenance expense of 2 cents per kWh produced. For example, if a turbine produces 10,000 kWh in a year it can be expected to require maintenance valued at $200. Given this scenario, the amount of maintenance required is estimated based upon the amount of energy produced by the turbine. This plan schedules an annual accrual of an estimated amount to plan for future repairs. Several assumptions apply to this plan: the turbine will require periodic visits on the order of several years apart by a certified dealer to make major repairs and scheduled replacements of parts. This plan also sets aside funds for any major unexpected repairs such as replacing the blades and/or the generator.

A periodic maintenance plan should include inspections of the bolts and electrical connections, as well as corrosion and proper tension of the guy wires. All bearings will require periodic replacement as well as leading edge tape for blades. Wind brings with it dust, dirt and bugs that come into contact with the turbine on a daily basis, causing the need for the maintenance. Turbines on the market today require much less maintenance than their predecessors. Today’s small wind turbines incorporate simpler designs such as direct drive that eliminates the need for a gearbox. Turbine components are also built out of highly robust and corrosion-resistant materials such as stainless steal. Though they often appear graceful in the sky, these turbines are operating in a harsh environment and have adapted to operate at high efficiencies for the life of the machine.