Wind Turbines Category

Wind Turbines

Wind Turbines utilise the natural wind power to generate electricity. Many size wind turbines are available from a few watts to multi megawatt systems.

At Intelligent Energy Solutions we are interested in micro generation wind turbines for domestic and commercial use. These tend to range in power from 500W up to 50,000W.

Wind Turbine Position

Everyone knows that the windier the position the more electricity is likely to be generated. However not all wind is the same!
The wind that will generate most electricity is ‘clean’ and free from turbulence. This wind is most likely to occur in open spaces with minimal obstructions.
The wind that blows through our cities is quite different, this tends to disrupted by chimneys, trees and tall buildings.

A good spot for a turbine will be primarily free of obstructions to the South West of the turbine. In the UK the prevailing wind usually comes from this direction.

Wind Turbine Payback

Apart from the siting the turbine in good location, the other important factor is the average wind speed. There is a wind speed database that is free to access and a link to this database can be found at the link, wind speed database.

If the position is free from obstruction to the South-West direction and the average wind speed is in excess of 5m/s then the wind turbine is likely to payback within 10 years.

For further information contact Intelligent Energy Solution by phone on 01509 768565 or e-mail: sales@iesolutions.co.uk

Wind Turbine Installations

Wind turbines have been about for a long time but are only just now becoming accepted by the masses. This has been helped in some way by companies like B&Q stocking them in their store for all to see.
Now they are becoming accepted one question we get asked quite often is…

“Can I mount it on my roof?”

This question isn’t as easy to answer as it sounds. In principle the idea of using the height already offered by your property sounds sensible and possibly even cheaper than using a standalone mast.
However in our experience the opposite is true. Using your home to support the turbine poses many complex engineering problems. These problems are not insurmountable but do pose significant difficulties.

Where is the best place for the wind turbine?

In general the installation will not only be cheaper and simpler to use a mast but the system can be more easily positioned away from buildings allowing the system to generate even more electricity. Let’s not forget that is supposed to be the whole idea!
Open spaces with minimal obstructions are also a must for the turbine to generate enough electricity to pay for it’s self in a reasonable time frame. We simply would not recommend installing a system in a city centre or anywhere with large buildings, tall trees and a generally iratic landscape. While the roof of your inner city home may seem windy this is often turbulent wind that causes a turbine to be confused and unable to establish a good constant speed.

Who should I contact for advice?

Intelligent Energy Solutions are happy to discuss the suitability of your home or premises for a wind turbine. Please feel free to call for a chat about your requirements.