Wind Turbines

Wind Turbines use the wind’s lift forces to rotate aerodynamic blades which turn a rotor that creates electricity. Only 0.5% of our electricity requirements are generated by Wind Power.

There are effective alternatives to fossil fuels that can meet your energy requirements and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. They will never run out - like wind, the sun and flowing water - or are continually replaceable - like waste products and crops. These can help reduce our dependence on non-renewable sources like fossil fuels.

How does it work?

Most small wind turbines generate Direct Current (DC) electricity. Battery storage will be required for systems that are not connected to the national grid, and an inverter to convert DC electricity into AC. The Wind Turbine can produce unused excess electricity which may be able to be stored and sold to your local electricity supply company.

The two types of Wind Turbines are:

Mast Mounted Wind Turbine – these are free standing and located near the buildings that will be using the electricity.

Roof Mounted Wind Turbine – these can be installed on the roof of your house and other buildings.

What are the benefits for me?

Wind Power is a clean, renewable source of energy which produces no carbon dioxide emissions or waste products.
With funding available installing a Wind Turbine can make good financial sense.
With today’s rising fuel costs, installing a Wind Turbine can help provide 100% of the power required for a property, providing an environmentally clean and economically viable solution to individual needs.
The UK has 40% of Europe’s total wind energy.

Is it suitable for my home?

Individual Wind Turbines vary in size and power output from a few hundred watts to two or three megawatts, as a guide a typical domestic system would be around 1 – 6 kilowatts. They range from small turbines supplying energy for battery charging to ones on Wind Farms supplying electricity to the grid.

The following should be considered if you are thinking about small scale wind:

• It is best to have the Wind Turbine high on a mast or tower as wind speed increases with height.
• Ideally the site should be a smooth top hill with flat, clear exposure and free from excessive turbulence and obstructions for example large trees, houses and other buildings.
• Small Scale wind power is extremely suitable for remote off road locations where conventional methods are expensive or impractical.

Electricity generated at any one time by a Wind Turbine is naturally dependant on the speed and direction of the wind.

If you are considering a domestic building mounted Wind Turbine, and electricity generation is your main motivation, then you should only consider a Wind Turbine if the local annual average wind speed is 6 m/s or more and there are no nearby obstacles such as trees, buildings or hills.