Should I install a domestic wind turbine?
More traditional wind power gathering. Jack and Jill windmills, Sussex (photo by david.nikonvscanon CC-BY)
In the UK this is new technology in the domestic environment. According to BWEA, a renewable energy trade association, in 2007 approximately 3500 micro- and small-wind turbines were deployed with the UK. The 2008 figures are expected to be higher.
Wind turbines providing “green energy” can now be purchased from DIY stores, but should be installed by an approved installer as they have to be connected to the house electricity supply via an inverter. The installer will also provide a site inspection, and advice on siting the turbine and the average wind speed required. Planning permission may also be required and this may take a number of months.
According to Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, turbines should only be installed where average annual wind speed is six metres per second (m/s) or more. However, some companies will consider installation between 4.5m/s and 5m/s if their assessment indicates it is viable.
It is recognised that wind generated power is subject to many variables such as topography of the area, obstructions, location and altitude. Finding out the average wind speed in your area can be a problem, and it is generally agreed that the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform’s wind speed database is unreliable for domestic urban settings. See the BWEA website for more comments on this.
There is equipment for measuring wind speed available to householders, but this has to be in place for several months before the average speed can be calculated.
A review of various websites and articles shows that there are many teething problems with the technology, especially in an urban setting where the projected wind strength does not occur, thus making the turbine obsolete. Indeed, costing more electricity to make it work, than it produces. Other problems include, vibration, free spinning, parts not working, and bad advice from installers on projected average wind speed.
This Which report is one such review of a householder’s experience.
So it appears that at the moment, if you live in an urban area, particularly in the South East, then it is unlikely that it would be worth installing one. If, however, you’re on a windy Scottish hill, then it looks a useful way to save money.
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Like so many “Which” reports, the one to which you refer raises more questions than it answers. We hear that the author did apply for planning permission, yet the stated question of whether this was required is never answered. We hear that a year later they were required to sign a disclaimer, but this simply doesn’t make sense because no-one can force you to retrospectively sign a disclaimer – there must be more to it than they are admitting. And although the “net loss” of 9.4kW-h is surprising, it’s not a lot. More interesting would be the actual figures: how many kW-h did the turbine generate, and what was the power consumption of the inverter when idling?
The subject of planning permission for domestic wind turbines is dealt with on this Charnwood Borough Council website. As usual, several if’s, and’s and but’s. It is unfortunate that the Which report is lacking in substance, nevertheless is still indicates that a good wind speed is required.