Modern best-in-class 1-3+ megawatt onshore wind turbines generally cost approximately $1. 6-4 million each provide the most attractive financial returns with 5-10 year payback periods and capacity factors of 25-45%, significantly outperforming residential systems. Hidden Costs Are Substantial: The turbine itself. . The 13th annual Cost of Wind Energy Review uses representative utility-scale and distributed wind energy projects to estimate the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for land-based and offshore wind power plants in the United States. We'll also explore installation costs, financial incentives, and long-term return on investment.