Wind Power

Wind Energy
In the UK we have 40% of Europe's total wind energy. But it's still largely untapped and only 0.5% of our electricity requirements are currently generated by wind power. Wind Turbines harness the wind to produce electrical power. The efficiency of a domestic system will depend on factors such as location and surrounding environment and the electricity output is usually between 2.5 and 6 KWs, but can be as low as 1KW.

Calculating electricity generation from a wind turbine requires consideration of the characteristics of wind. Wind power is proportional to the cube of the wind’s speed which means that large changes in potential output can result from relatively minor increases in wind speed. Because wind speed increases with height, a typical wind turbine is mounted high on a mast or tower and an ideal location is on a smooth-top hill with a flat, clear exposure and is free from obstructions such as buildings, forests or other large trees that can cause excessive turbulence.

Funding & Grants
If you are considering installing renewable energy in your home, you may be eligible for a grant. UK wide - the DTI's low carbon buildings programme provides grants for householders, community organisations, schools, the public and not for profit sector and private businesses. Grants are available for wind turbines, for more information see the low carbon buildings programme website.

Latest Developments
The latest development in domestic wind turbine technology is roof-mounted turbines for installation on domestic dwellings. These mini-wind turbines give a nominal output of 1kW and are designed to generate energy from low wind speeds. They are typically mounted on the gable end of buildings although in some cases can be attached to the building side-walls.