Question. How much energy, plastic and other oil synthetics had to be used in order to build one of the turbines. How long does it takes for the electricity generated to be actually green energy?,(reply>), On average, a wind turbine has a 20 year lifespan (then they're often reconditioned and sold overseas to keep being used).<br><br>It takes just under a year of average energy production to pay back the manufacturing and installation costs of wind turbines.<br><br>For a coal powered plant, it takes 3 years to pay those costs back, AND it's still poisoning the world.