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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. 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. Performance details The performance of domestic wind systems depend upon the size and type of the turbine and location. The optimum size for the average household is typically between 1.5 – 3kW, however smaller and larger sized turbines can be installed depending upon application. Systems up to 1kW will cost around £3,000 and larger systems between 1.5kW and 6kW will cost around £4,000 to £18,000. Small-scale wind power is particularly suitable for remote off-grid locations where conventional methods of supply are expensive or impractical. Roof mounted turbines usually 1kW can cost around £1,500 installed and will reduce an average annual electricity bill by up to 1/3 or around 500kWh to 1.2 MWh per annum. This would save approximately 500kg or half a tonne of CO2 per year. To find out how to get wind power please click on our Micropower Council member links below: |