Abstract In this paper, numerical and experimental studies are presented to determine the operating performance and power output from a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). A k-ɛ turbulence model is used to perform the transient simulations. The 3-D numerical predictions are based on the time averaged Spalart-Allmaras equations. A case study is performed for varying VAWT stator vane (tab) geometries of a Zephyr vertical axis wind turbine. The mean velocity is used to predict the time averaged variations of the power coefficient and power output. Power coefficients predicted by the numerical models are compared for different turbine geometries. The predictive capabilities of the numerical model are verified by past experimental data, as well as wind tunnel experiments in the current paper, to compare two particular geometric designs. The numerical results examine the turbine's performance at constant and variable rotor velocities. The effects of stator vanes on the turbine's power output are presented and discussed.