The Wind Turbine is a power source block added in update 1.189 (February 28, 2019). The Wind Turbine will only work on atmospheric planets and on large grid stations (for exceptions, see below).
A DLC shape variant of this block is the Twin-Blade Wind Turbine.
Power[]
The power output of a wind turbine is dependent on Wind Clearance, atmospheric density (oxygen levels), and weather. The maximum possible power output in calm weather is 400.00 kW, but outputs in excess of 620 kW have been observed in stormy conditions.
Construction[]
The maximum output power is a function of height, atmospheric density, and nearby obstructions, so consider these before placing the block. The block itself takes up space that is 3 wide x 3 tall x 3 deep. There are no control pad access points on this block. The attachment point is a 1x1 square at the base of the turbine.
Limitations: The block will cease producing power when attached to a large ship or large rover, or if attached to stations through a 
Rotor, 
Hinge, or 
Piston. An exception to this rule is that the Wind Turbine does produce power temporarily while a 
Landing Gear affixes the mobile grid to a station or the planet's surface.
There are three wind clearance categories indicated in the Control Panel: None, Poor, Good, and Optimal. None means the turbine is switched off, or not directly attached to a station. The more wind clearance, the higher the power output. Wind clearance is a function of turbine height, nearby terrain and station obstructions:
- Vertically, place the turbine 6+ (optimum: 9) blocks high up on a roof, hill, or on pillars.
- Horizontally, place the turbines 8+ (optimum: 9) blocks apart, that means, keep 5+ blocks free between the blades.
Turbine Height Comparison[]
The following data was collected on Wind Turbine power potential under different height conditions. Please note the max power function may produce different results than what is listed here.
| Height (Blocks) | Max Output (kW) | Wind Clearance |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 212.39 | Poor |
| 3 | 273.05 | Good |
| 6 | 346.02 | Optimal |
| 7 | 371.59 | Optimal |
| 9 | 371.55 | Optimal |
| Height (Blocks) | Max Output (kW) | Wind Clearance |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 153.54 | Poor |
| 3 | 197.36 | Good |
| 6 | 263.10 | Optimal |
| 9 | 268.56 | Optimal |
| 12 | 268.49 | Optimal |
| 15 | 268.41 | Optimal |
| Examples | |
|---|---|
| Valley Location | Mountain Top Location |
  Height = 0 |
  Height = 0 |
  Height = 3 |
  Height = 3 |
  Height = 9 |
  Height = 9 |
Recipe[]
 Wind Turbine | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Component | Large Ship/Station Required | Large Ship/Station Optional | ||
 Computer | 2 | — | ||
 Girder | 24 | — | ||
 Construction Comp. | 20 | — | ||
 Motor | 8 | — | ||
 Interior Plate | 10 | 30 | ||
Tips[]
It can be advantageous to have one base (with turbines and batteries) to park and recharge vehicles, and next door, a separate base (with its own turbines and batteries) for factory blocks. It will be more expensive to build, but they will be independent of one another, and refining ingots or producing components will no longer prevent your miner from recharging.
