Small, airborne and traditional wind: Overview
Kites, sails and rooftop rotors: wind where big turbines cannot go
What this tile covers Wind captured at small scale, at height, or as motion rather than electricity. Share of use <.01% share of world energy supply (2015)Share of world total energy supply captured or extracted by each method, 2024 (latest year where noted). Denominator is the Energy Institute Statistical Review 2025 total of 592.2 EJ (physical energy content method); electricity from wind, solar, hydro and geothermal is counted at output, nuclear at reactor heat. Heat and biomass flows outside EI's total are set against the same 592.2 EJ. 945 MW of small turbines worldwide (WWEA, end-2015) at the 14% capacity factor seen in US small wind gives about 1.2 TWh (0.0042 EJ) of 592.2 EJ (calculated). Dated capacity figure; airborne and sail-assist systems are negligible. Source: World market reached 945 MW in 2015, 14% growth, almost 1 million units installed, World Wind Energy Association.
Key facts
| Output | Electricity or motion |
Included from the reference tables
- Vertical-axis turbines (Darrieus, Savonius)
- Small and micro turbines
- Airborne wind: kites and tethered drones
- Traditional windmills
- Sails, rotor sails, kite sails and wing sails
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