The best places to place a wind turbine are atop rounded hills, open plains (or open water for coastal wind), and mountain passes through which the wind passes naturally (creating regular high wind speeds). Generally, the higher the elevation, the better, since higher areas tend to have stronger winds.

Predicting wind energy is important in choosing where to install a wind turbine. There are many wind speed maps and data from various organizations.

The site should then be surveyed to evaluate local winds and determine the best direction to place the wind turbines for maximum efficiency. Over a period of at least a year, wind speed, turbulence, and onshore wind direction, as well as air temperature and humidity, are projected. Once this information is determined, the turbines can be installed.

Wind is not the only factor for turbine placement. Wind farm developers must consider how close the wind farm is to power lines (and to cities that can use the electricity); possible interference with airports and aircraft; rocks and faults; flight patterns of birds and bats; and impacts on the local community (noise and other impacts).
Most large wind energy projects are designed to last at least 20 years, so these factors must be considered in the long term.

Types of wind energy

Wind Energy
Large-scale wind projects are designed to be used as an energy source by utilities. They are similar in scope to coal- or natural gas-fired power plants. Turbines over 100 kilowatts are typically installed in multiple units to provide maximum power.

Offshore wind power
Typically, these are utility-scale wind power projects that are located in coastal waters. They can generate the power needed to power large cities (which in most of the U.S. are concentrated near the coast). According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the wind blows harder in coastal areas than on land. The potential for offshore wind power in the U.S. is more than 2,000 gigawatts of energy, twice the generating capacity of all U.S. power plants. According to the International Energy Agency, worldwide wind energy can provide 18 times more energy than is currently used.

Small or distributed wind power
This type of wind energy is the opposite of the examples above. These are small wind turbines that are used to meet the energy needs of a particular facility or location. Sometimes these turbines are connected to the energy distribution grid, and sometimes they operate independently. Small units (5 kilowatts) can meet some or most of a household’s needs, depending on weather and size (20 kilowatts or so). Located at industrial or public facilities, these units are part of a renewable energy system, which can also include solar, geothermal or other energy sources.