|
|
1. Is my home suitable for a wind turbine?
1.1. Is the wind smooth enough?
For the best performance, a wind turbine needs smooth strong air flow which means it should be mounted well above any obstructions in the area. Its important to pay attention to the prevailing wind direction, but don't forget that the wind comes from all directions at some point. To get an idea of how the wind is disrupted by an obstruction have a look under a bridge next time you walk over one. You'll see the turbulence in the water more clearly than you can with the air.
To reach the theoretical maximum power output you need REALLY good airflow which means being 300m from buildings or trees with a 12m+ tower.
Most people have to make some compromise, in particular to meet local planning requirements. You can get pretty good performance if you get your turbine 7m above anything with within 100m, and ought to be above the ridge lines of buildings in the area.
If you can't achieve this (for example in an urban environment), it might be worth considering a turbine, but you need to be aware you will generate less electricity and have higher maintenance bills as parts are worn faster by turbulent wind.
If your wind is too turbulent, you may want to explore PV instead.
1.2. How much power would i generate?
To estimate the power output, you need to establish the wind speed in your area. If you have average speeds above 5m/s (i.e. Force 3+ or 9mph+) its worth exploring a turbine in more detail.
The easiest way to do this, is by looking it up on the British Wind Energy Association [BWEA] website. Please note though, that the database is based on a model and is only accurate to the nearest square kilometre, so it may be too high or too low for your actual site – in particular if you are in a hilly / urban / wooded area; and output predictions based on this database should not be treated as guarantees.
For greater accuracy, you can monitor the wind speed at your site using an anemometer; but if you are going to do this you really need to do it for 3 years to account for variations between seasons and years, and anemometers cannot measure turbulence. We recommend the WS3502 which costs about £100 from [link]
If your wind is not strong enough, you may want to explore PV instead.
2. Do I need planning permission?
You will probably need planning permission, and we can apply for you [link to survey and planning permission service & charge + ANOB/Green Belt charge ]. Planning officers and committees have typically had little first-hand information or experience on which to base their decisions for small wind turbines (3-5m diameter on a 12-18m pole). The majority of applications that have been dealt with have typically been for larger-scale commercial wind turbines (45-60m diameter on a 100m pole) and planning officers and committees are wary of issues such as visual intrusion and noise, which are associated more with this type of turbine rather than our small-scale ones.
Under central government guidelines, planners should generally look at small wind turbines in a positive light and most of our applications have been successful. Should the planners request a site visit, then we can help arrange but we may not be able to attend.
If you live near a military radar installation, in a national park or AONB you may find planning permission more difficult with a more time consuming consultation.
Central government guidelines
PPS 22 – Planning Policy Statement 22
Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22) is specific to the consideration of planning issues relating to renewable energy projects. The objective of PPS22 is to provide a clear, up to date statement of national planning policy for renewable energy in England; to ensure that the planning system plays its part in delivering Government policy on energy. Under Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22):
· Regional Planning Bodies and local planning authorities should recognise the full range of renewable energy sources, their differing characteristics, locational requirements and the potential for exploiting them subject to appropriate environmental safeguards.
· The wider environmental and economic benefits of all proposals for renewable energy projects, whatever their scale, are material considerations that should be given significant weight in determining whether proposals should be granted planning permission.
· Regional planning bodies and local planning authorities should not make assumptions about the technical feasibility of renewable energy projects.
· Local planning authorities, regional stakeholders and Local Strategic Partnerships should foster community involvement in renewable energy projects and seek to promote knowledge of and greater acceptance by the public of prospective renewable energy developments that are appropriately located.
· Small-scale developments should be permitted within areas such as National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Heritage Coasts provided that there is no serious environmental detriment to the area concerned.
Merton Rule
The 'Merton Rule' is the ground breaking planning policy, pioneered by the London Borough of Merton, which requires the use of renewable energy onsite to reduce annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the built environment. Hundreds of local authorities have followed Merton's lead, which will impact all major development projects throughout the UK.
Code for Sustainable Homes
The buildings sector accounts for 40% of the EU's energy requirements. It offers the largest single potential for energy efficiency. The Code for Sustainable Homes complements Energy Performance Certificates to drive a step-change in sustainable home building practice. It will become the single national standard for sustainable homes and will form the basis for future developments of the Building Regulations.
Energy Performance Certificates
Energy performance certificates (EPCs) provide an A to G rating for properties to reflect their energy efficiency and carbon emissions. They will be mandatory for all homes bought and sold in England and Wales from June 2007.
Town and County Planning Act
There are proposals currently being discussed in Whitehall to simplify planning applications for small wind turbines – by making them a permitted development (i.e. The same planning rules that apply to satellite dishes). These should be in place by late 2007.
2.1. What about noise?Noise is often a consideration in a planning application. Wind turbines are not silent, but you generally can't hear them from 50m-100m; and they should be around 100m from neighbours.
Small wind turbines makes about the same amount of noise as a flowing stream or the noise of leaves rustling in a gentle breeze. Even when wind speed increases, you will probably notice the increase in normal background sound.
2.2. Impact on the view?
The biggest single reason that turbine applications are turned down is the impact on the view. The brow of the hill may be the best site with respect to wind, but not the best site with respect to the view from nearby villages.
2.3. Impact in birdsImpact on wildlife is also sometimes a consideration.Bird strikes do happen very rarely. The turbines rotate at a slow rpm and so can be usually be detected from several hundred meters by birds – allowing them to adjust their course to avoid the obstacle. Cars, windows in buildings and natural predators kill millions more birds than a wind turbine will do.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) actively supports and promotes the use of wind turbines because they helps mitigate climate change, which the RSPB believe "poses the most significant long-term threat to the environment – this was also echoed in a recent report in Nature. It concluded that over the next 50 years climate change is expected to drive a quarter of land animals and plants into extinction and that under the higher estimates of climate change a quarter of the birds could become extinct. The RSPB described the report as 'a deeply depressing paper'.
3. Electrical
3.1. Permission for grid connection
If your turbine outputs less than 16A (about 3.8kw), then you can connect to the grid without permission. We will complete the necessary paperwork for your electricity network operator. If your turbine is above 3.8kw, then you need permission from your grid company to connect. They may require additional components and may wish to witness our safety tests and to upgrade their local network. Each network operator is different, and there may be fee for their work. You need to allow 2-3 months, so we recommend starting conversations with them when you start your planning application. These conversations are fairly technical so we can complete this process for you.
3.2. Can I export electricity to the grid?
As part of the installation process, we can recommend an electricity supplier with a high value feed in tariff – for example Npower Microgeneration scheme [link]. They are currently the best electricity supplier for people with wind turbines. They will buy electricity from you at the same rate as they sell it to you. In addition, they pay you for the Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC).
If, for example the average wind at your site is 6.2m/s, you should expect to generate approx 17,000 kWh each year with an Eoltec Scirocco. At current electricity prices, 17,000 kWh is up to £2,460 electricity pa. Some of this will be exported to the grid when you are not using it (for example at night), and you will continue to buy electricity from the grid at peak usage times (for example during the evening) and during calm days. With rising energy prices, and pressure from Central Government to reduce carbon emissions we anticipate that your savings will rise over time. With a 20+ year life expectancy, you should see financial returns in the long run.
What is a ROC?
The Renewables Obligation (RO) is the UK’s policy for increasing the contribution of energy from renewable sources to fulfil the EU Renewables Directive. The RO requires licensed electricity suppliers to source a percentage of their sales from eligible renewable sources. This percentage increases each year, starting at 3% in 2003 and reaching 10.4% by 2010. Each MWh (i.e. 1000 KWh) of renewable electricity generated is accompanied by a Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC). At the end of each year, electricity suppliers must provide the electricity regulator with the appropriate number of ROCs to prove that they have fulfilled their RO. If they cannot produce the required number of ROCs, they pay a ‘buy-out’ fee for every MWh that they are short.
ROCs, in this unique system, are the currency of the RO. They can be traded, with suppliers buying them from generators, brokers or other suppliers. When insufficient electricity is generated from renewable sources to meet the demands of suppliers (currently the case), then the value of a ROC rises.
When trading started in 2003 a ROC was worth £30. The average price in the Jan 2007 wholesale ROC auction was £46.17/MWh (or 4.617p per Kwh). The current retail price is approx 3.34p
3.3. What happens in the event of a power cut?
To protect electricity company engineers who may be working to restore power, a standard grid connected turbine will not produce electricity when there is a power cut. It shuts down into safe mode putting the electricity into a dump load.
If you have an unreliable grid supply, then a hybrid grid-connected/ battery/diesel system can ensure that you have a reliable electricity supply. If you have no grid connection, a combination of battery backed solar panels and a wind turbine can provide you with electricity all year round.
4. Installation
4.1. How is the turbine installed?
We offer a full installation service covering planning, ground works, electrical installation, turbine erection, grid connection and commissioning. If you have access to suitably qualified tradesmen, then we are happy to provide specifications to you for them to undertake some of the work. However, we will always supply the turbine and inverters and commission the work to ensure our high quality standards are maintained.
5. Grants
5.1 What grants are available ?
The Grant system is very unpredictable. We recommend making your decision on the basis that no grant is available – meaning that if you do get a grant then it is a pleasant surprise.
A high value feed in tariff provides a means of generating income in a more predictable way than grants could.
|
|
