Wind Turbines For The Home
 

The UK is a windy place to live! We have approximately 40% of Europe's total wind energy. Having said that we are still only generating less than 1% of our electricity from wind power.

There are a lot of different types of wind turbine available and they vary in size and power output. You can buy small turbines for use in a marine environment or larger turbines that can be used for domestic, commercial and industrial use. A typical domestic system could be supplied with a turbine that generates 2.5-5 kilowatts, this depends on location and size of the home. 

Wind generators and your home. As mentioned in our wind facts wind speed increases with height so a turbine would need to be mounted high on a pole or tower. There are ideal places where turbines can be mounted, but that might not be the case where you live. Generally, the turbine must be mounted free from obstacles, trees, building etc. 

Before an attempt is made to install a wind turbine, you need to know local wind conditions for your area. This will help to design a wind turbine that is suitable for the weather conditions in your area. The British Wind Energy Association has a very good database of wind conditions throughout the UK. Just enter the postcode where you live and it will tell you the wind speeds in your area. 

Planning - Always consult your local planning authority.

Stand-alone or grid-connected system? Wind power systems are very suitable for remote off-grid locations where conventional methods of supply are expensive or impractical. Small wind turbines that generate less than 1KW of power generate direct current (DC) electricity. Off-grid systems always require battery storage and an inverter can be used to convert DC electricity to AC.

All wind and solar power system require a controller or regulator that prevents overcharging of the battery and it can also be used to can divert power to another sources after the battery is fully charged.

Backup Power - when conditions are such that there is no wind to drive the turbine then a diesel generator can be used to provide energy. A combined wind and diesel backup generator is very flexible.

Grid Connect Systems: wind systems can also be installed and connected to the grid. An inverter and controller converts DC electricity to AC at a quality and standard acceptable to the grid. No battery storage is required.

Pricing: prices are all inclusive and includes the wind turbine, mounting pole or mast, inverters, battery (optional) installation and commissioning.

Wind Turbines have a long life, up to 25 years, but do require regular maintenance and checks. Off grid systems require periodic checks and batteries usually last about 10 years.