Why are the blades on modern wind turbines so narrow?

Many respondents pointed out that wind turbines rotate not because of air striking the blades but rather by the air flowing around them, so space is needed ... So narrow is better. The blade only needs to be wide enough to produce enough torque to keep the turbine's hub turning. read more

An aspect to consider in wind turbine design is the so-called solidity factor, the fraction of solid blade surface exposed to the wind in the circle area swept by the blades. With just a few blades far apart from one another, the wake of one blade does not impact the attack of the blade that follows. read more

Blades can now change their shape to balance the speed of the wind they are in with the optimal speed to generate electricity. Those giant sails you think of had to be stopped and broadened/narrowed to match the wind. read more

For wind turbines that have low-speed, high-torque uses, such as for pumping water, the best efficiency is achieved by a high ratio – a few wide blades or a large number of narrow blades. You see these most often on farms. read more