There are 3 main types of Turbine Configuration.
1. Grid Tied Configuration
This is by far the most common configuration for Small Wind Turbines. The turbine is connected to the National Grid, usually via an inverter and dual tariff meter. The advantage of this system is that you are able to sell electricity to an electricity supply company, when you are not using all the electricity that your wind turbine is producing. When you are not producing enough electricity to meet your demand (e.g. on calm days), then you will buy electricity from your supply company in the normal way. In the event of a power failure the system automatically shuts down to protect anyone who may be working on the grid.
2. Battery Configuration
Battery Configured Small Wind Turbines are useful for isolated sites or outbuildings (e.g. Chicken Farms) which are not connected to the National Grid. The turbine charges a bank of batteries which then supply direct current (DC) to a DC circuit within the building. The price of the battery bank is usually going to mean a more expensive system.
3. Integrated Battery Configuration
These systems charge a battery bank (as with the battery configuration) and then the battery bank feeds a simple inverter that changes the DC into alternating current (AC). The AC is then used to supply one or more of the home's circuits and should the battery power fall too low, a relay switches the supply back to the national grid supply. In this set up the system continues to work during a power cut but you would not be able to sell any excess power back to your electricity supplier.