Using a wind powered turbine to generate domestic electricity can help to counter climate change. A number of different types of domestic wind turbine are now on the market, making urban wind power more viable. Financial feasibility for using these technologies is largely dependent on having an appropriately windy site, enhanced by the availability of the Feed-In Tariff (see further below).
Different types of technology
Domestic wind turbines can either be large free standing units or smaller building integrated designs. Different styles of turbine allow for either the horizontal wind typical of hill tops (horizontal axis) or the more turbulent wind conditions found in urban areas (vertical axis). These systems can generate energy ranging from a few kWh (kilowatt hours) per year to over 20,000kWh per year. As a guide, the average household uses about 3,300kWh per year. There is certainly the potential for a household to generate all its electricity from wind power, providing the site is suitably windy and has an appropriate space in which to install the turbine.
Cost Effectiveness
The cost effectiveness of a wind turbine depends on factors such as the openness of the site, wind speeds and type of turbine. In terms of site, an open aspect exposed to the typically prevailing wind direction is preferred. An average wind speed of at least 4.5m/s or above is needed, with best performance at over 5-6m/s. See Useful Contacts below for a link to the DECC wind speed database to find out wind speeds at any location in the UK. Unobstructed hill tops are certainly preferable to valley or urban locations. The site should be clear of obstructions between the turbine and the prevailing wind direction (usually south westerly). The location and size of site and the amount of energy required dictates the type of turbine to be purchased. On-site use of electricity generated provides a saving on imported power from the grid. Grid connected systems are recommended, pumping surplus energy into the national grid and earning export tariff income from your electricity supplier. An alternative, where appropriate, is to use electric immersion heating elements in a hot water tank to store the energy as heat. Currently the export tariff is 3.1p per kWh for electricity generated by renewables.
An off-grid wind turbine will earn the FITs payments
You should seek advice from your installer on what suits your particular situation.
Feed-In Tariffs (FITs)
The FITs scheme only rewards renewable installations made by an accredited installer of accredited products. Details are available at the Microgeneration Certification Scheme website (www.microgenerationcertification.org/) which provides details of both accredited installers and products.
The FITs scheme provides different payments depending on the rated capacity of the wind turbine. As an example for a turbine up to and inlcuding 1.5kW the payment is 36.2p / kWh, above 1.5kW to 15kW 28p and above 15kW to 100kW is 25.3p.
Investors earn a FITs income for every kWh of electricity generated, but also an additional 3.1p / kWh for electricity exported. Where electricity is used on-site when the turbine is generating a saving is made by not importing electricity from the grid.
Useful Contacts: This is a starting point for your enquiries but with no implied recommendation as to their qualities of service to the public.
Energy Saving Trust
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Wind-Turbines
Britsh Wind Energy Association
DECC Wind speed database
Centre for Alternative Technology
European Wind Energy Association
FITs
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Sell-your-own-energy/Feed-in-Tariff-scheme
