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Renewable Energy > Wind Power - Domestic Systems

Wind Power - Domestic Systems

Wind power is a clean, renewable source of electricity which produces no CO₂ emissions or waste products.

Wind turbines use the wind's lift forces to rotate aerodynamic blades that turn a rotor to which an electrical generator connected.

Wind generators suitable for domestic systems typically range from 1 to 6 kilowatts.

You should consider the following issues if you're thinking about installing a small scale wind generator for a domestic building.

Many companies suggest that an accredited installer will be able to provide more detailed advice but diligent research on the Internet will provide all that you need too.

Wind speed increase with height so it's best to have the turbine high on a mast or tower.

The ideal site is a smooth top hill with a flat, clear exposure, free from excessive turbulence and obstructions such as large trees, houses or other buildings.

Small scale wind power is particularly suitable for remote off-grid locations where conventional methods of supply are expensive or impractical.

Planning permission is currently required from the Local Authority. However, the UK government has indicated that it will allow small-scale wind turbines to be erected in urban areas, once the move is approved by the European Commission, lifting of the current restrictions could take place by June 2008

Small-scale building-integrated wind turbines suitable for urban locations are also available to install in homes and other buildings. There are two types of wind turbines:

Mast mounted - which are free standing and located near to the building(s) that will be using the electricity.
Roof mounted - which can be installed on house roofs and other buildings.

Please note that the electricity generated by a wind turbine at any time is highly dependent on the speed and direction of the wind. Wind speed itself is dependent on a number of factors, such as location within the UK, height of the turbine above ground level and nearby obstructions.

If you are considering a domestic building-mounted installation and electricity generation is your main motivation you should check that the local annual average wind speed is 6 m/s and that there are no significant obstacles such as buildings, trees or hills that are likely to reduce the wind speed or increase turbulence. An approximate annual average wind speed for your location can be checked on the BERR website:-

http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/explained/wind/page16085.html.

Most small-scale wind turbines generate direct current (DC) electricity. Systems that are not connected to the national grid require battery storage and an inverter to convert DC electricity to AC (alternating current - mains electricity).

Small-scale wind generators can be connected to the national grid so that any unused or excess electricity may be exported to the national grid and sold to the local electricity supply company.

A special inverter and controller are required to convert DC electricity to AC at a quality and standard acceptable to the national grid. No battery storage is required in this application.

An example of a small-scale wind generator is the Windsave WS1200 which is a wall-mounted micro-wind turbine system designed to supplement the supply drawn from the national grid. Wind Save's main competitive advantage comes from the "Plug 'n' Save" technology which allows electricity generated to be connected directly into the ring main via a fused spur outlet to supplement overall consumption, instead of being stored in batteries or be used via the national grid. The selling price of about £1,900 includes installation by Windsave's accredited installers.

Proven Energy (www.provenenergy.co.uk) claim to be the world's leading supplier of small-scale wind turbines and say that their high performance turbine is the result of thirty years of inspiration, innovation and development.

With over 1500 turbines installed worldwide, Proven Energy claim unrivalled experience and global renown for robust reliable turbine performance.

Proven Energy wind turbines are available in three standard systems, which manage how the electricity that they produce is used.

1) Grid Connect

The electricity produced is fed directly into your fuse box or distribution board, providing power to your premises. Any surplus electricity produced can be exported to the grid, dependent upon local regulations and potentially sold to an electricity provider. Convenience and the opportunity to sell excess electricity have made this the most popular system.

2) Battery Charging

Energy produced by the turbine is stored in a large battery, to provide a power supply. This is most beneficial in remote locations which are not connected to the grid, or which rely on a diesel / oil generator. Installing a turbine can reduce fuel consumption by up to 95% and the payback time can be very short.

3) Direct Heating

Energy produced by the turbine is directed to hot water tanks, storage heaters or under-floor heating, rather than providing electricity to feed into your power supply.

For more information:

http://www.greenliving.co.uk/Articles/theeconomiccasef.html
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/generate_your_own_energy/types_of_renewables/microwind

http://www.provenenergy.co.uk/

http://www.windsave.com
http://www.renewablecomponents.com/images/MiniWind%20Product%20Brochure.pdf

www.theiet.org/factfiles/energy/wind.cfm?type=pdf

Costs and savings - an independent view:

An independent consultant, James Lea, has published a worked costing (http://www.greenliving.co.uk/Articles/theeconomiccasef.html) to determine the economic viability of domestic small-scale wind power compared with electricity purchased from the national grid.

James' costing shows that domestic small-scale wind power compares favourably with conventional non-renewable energy, even before any additional environmental benefits are considered.

He is absolutely certain that there is an economic justification for domestic small-scale wind generators - without accounting for the rapidly escalating cost of energy.

The Energy Saving Trust is rather more cautious as may be seen from the following extract from their website:

Costs and savings - the Energy Savings Trust's views

Roof mounted. These cost from £1,500.The amount of energy and carbon that roof top micro wind turbines save depends on several things including size, location, wind speed, nearby buildings and the local landscape.

At the moment there is not enough data from existing wind turbine installations to provide a figure of how much energy and carbon could typically be saved. The Energy Saving Trust is monitoring up to 100 wind turbine installations; the results of this activity will help to provide further information for householders considering this technology.

Mast mounted. Larger systems in the region of 2.5kW to 6kW would cost between £10,000 - £25,000 installed. These costs are inclusive of the turbine, mast, inverters, battery storage (if required) and installation; however it's important to remember that costs always vary depending on location and the size and type of system.

Turbines can have a life of up to 20 years but require service checks every few years to ensure they work efficiently. For battery storage systems, typical battery life is around 6-10 years, depending on the type, so batteries may have to be replaced at some point in the system's life.

Where can I find out more about installation?

The BERR funded low carbon buildings programme provides grants to help with the costs of installing small scale wind technologies. To be eligible for a grant you will need to use a certified installer and products.