Renewable Energy News

Many people wonder about how quickly wind turbines pay back.

Obviously it is crucial that the position is good and doesn't suffer from turbulant air. Once this is sorted one question people ask is "How big should I go?".

In very general terms, the larger the turbine the faster the payback. Normally speaking the output increases significantly with the larger output turbines but the £ per kW cost is quite linear.

We offer three sizes of turbine, 2.5kW, 6kW and 15kW. The 6kW turbine will delivery around 3 times more power than the 2.5kw system. and in turn the 15kW turbine will delivery around 3 times more power than the 6kW.

So the more you spend the faster your return should be.

Labels: Wind-Turbines

Exported Wind Electricity

Wind Turbines generate electricity that can used in your home or premises.

Excess electricity can be exported back onto the grid and most electricity suppliers will buy this electricity from you.

The rates that are being paid are improving all the time. Many supplier will now a similar amount to the import rate for the electricity you export, currently around 10p/kWhr.

What many people don't know is that in 2002 another parallel scheme was launched that will encourage suppliers to pay an additional amount of money for this electricity.

ROCs

A Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) is a green certificate issued to an accredited generator (the home or business owner) for renewable electricity generated. One ROC is issued for each megawatt hour (MWh) of eligible renewable output generated. This means that you get one ROC for each 1000kWhrs of electricity generated.

The scheme is designed to incentivise renewable energy generation in the UK. When the scheme was formulated an obligation was placed on the electricity suppliers to obtain an proportion of their energy from renewable sources. In 2005-06 this target was 5.5 per cent and in 2006-07 the obligation was set at 6.7 per cent.

If the electricity companies do not have enough ROCs they have to pay the other suppliers who do have enough. This means that the suppliers want to buy your ROCs to avoid being penalised.

The payment depends on the supplier but they typically pay around £30-£40 per ROC. This means that every unit of electricity generated is worth about 30-40 per cent more.

The scheme is planned to run until 2027.

This means that Wind Turbines may payback quicker than you think!

Labels: Wind-Turbines

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 891256 or e-mail: sales@iesolutions.co.uk

Labels: Wind-Turbines

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.

Labels: Wind-Turbines