by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
New small wind turbine installation guide for businesses and homeowners launched
RenewableUK, the country’s leading renewable energy trade association, has today announced the publication of a consumer guide aimed at helping individuals and businesses looking to install their own wind turbine. Launching the guide at its annual International Small Wind Conference 2010 (ISWC 2010), in Glasgow, RenewableUK urged consumers to take advantage of the government’s new feed-in tariffs, but highlighted the need for the sector to be granted its long awaited General Permission Development Order (GPDO).
According to RenewableUK, feed-in tariffs launched at the beginning of this month provide the financial incentive necessary for the potential of small wind to be fully realised in the UK. Consumers installing a small wind system will be able to reduce their energy bills and earn an income from supplying the grid, whilst reducing their carbon footprint. A GPDO for the small wind sector would remove the need for planning permission approval.
Such an order was supposed to be given some time back, also, as far as I understand, because this is ordered by the European Union. But, again and again, planning consent is denied to people wishing to put up small wind turbines. This must change and it must become the norm that one can put up turbines without the need of getting permission, period.
The publication of the guide, Generate Your Own Power, coincides with recent announcement of record growth for the UK small wind sector. Figures reveal a 25% increase in market growth and the deployment of 14,000 small wind system units between 2005 and 2009. The UK is now the largest market in Europe and the second largest in the world for small wind systems, demonstrating a growing appetite in this country for renewable forms of energy.
Between 2005 and 2009, as indicated, 14,000 wind system units deployed have been deployed in Britain which, in my opinion, is far too few to make any real difference, though RenewableUK predicts major sector growth from feed-in-tariffs.
Should that be the selling point though, the feed in tariff. I should think not. The selling point for small wind turbines should be an off-grid independence, as and where wanted.
Speaking from ISWC 2010, Alex Murley, Head of Small Systems at RenewableUK, said: “More and more people are waking up to the financial and environmental benefits of small wind installation. This is an exciting trend for the industry that will be spurred on by the new feed-in tariffs. We urge any new government to take another step forward with the introduction of a GPDO for small wind, which will allow the true carbon-cutting potential of this sector to be realized. If you have access to a windy location then now is the perfect time to be considering a small wind installation and our new guide has all the information you need to get the process started.”
RenewableUK’s consumer guide has been designed to educate people about small wind systems, explain the different wind turbine options available and provide the necessary information for those wishing to start the installation process.
The guide is available as a download from http://www.renewable-uk.com/.
What the renewables world and people in general need to come to understand is that we could fulfil most of our individual electricity needs, for homes especially, from using efficient small wind turbines, and 12V DC alternators to charge some deep-cycle marine batteries for back up.
Generating 240V AC is not a very efficient way and nor do we, in all honesty, need that voltage and power any more today. The guide from RenewableUK, sadly, does not touch this subject and truth either.
Turbines for 12V DC production for home use can also me made at home by most DIYers without much of a problem and the most efficient ones appear to be the ones that look like the old windmills of the American West and especially vertical-axis turbines.
© 2010
