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All You Need to Know About Wind Turbines and The Green Deal
The wind is a renewable power source, and it releases no carbon dioxide. It simply uses the natural flow of air that passes by the wind turbine. The aerofoil rotor blades can concentrate the energy. The concentration directs the energy into a single rotating flow that can then be harnessed. The turbine is coupled to an alternator that generates power.
Large wind turbines are used for electricity farms. They generate great quantities of power that can then be transferred to the nearest power substation for use. The small turbine can be used to power a home, a farm or even larger units such as villages or industrial facilities. These are useful for remote areas and for individuals who want to escape escalating fuel costs. A 20kW turbine could power a construction site, for instance. Generally a small turbine can generate a mere 10kW to a maximum 100kW. The height of a wind turbine also determines the energy output. Obviously, if you have a taller tower, you will have fewer obstacles to block the wind. Small turbine towers may be 50 feet to 250 feet high. Smaller turbines require lower wind speeds to spin, allowing them to generate power even when winds aren’t strong.
Environmental issues and complaints related to wind power are far more manageable than coal or nuclear. It has been stated that wind farms pose a threat to birds; however several studies have found large wind farms do not pose a threat to migrating birds. These studies attached GPS devices to the birds and found they alter course to avoid large wind farms. Many domestic issues are from noise complaints from neighbours; the dreaded whirring sound of wind turbines is often caused by poor maintenance or damage to the turbine in high winds. Research into new designs of wind turbines is increasing, developing ways to increase power output while reducing noise and size of the wind turbines. There are now several models of Vertical-axis wind turbines that claim to make little to no noise during their operational speeds. The number one complaint about wind turbines is that their towers ruin the scenery. This can be an issue for the neighbours of someone with a wind turbine and for environmentalists when a large wind farm is proposed. During the planning process of any large wind turbine this issue is always raised and sensible planning authorities look to make set conditions to reduce the effect of the tower either through moving the wind turbines location or integrating the wind turbine and the scenery as best as possible.
Power generation depends on using the right turbine for the right job. Some worry that wind power won’t work if the wind stops blowing. Through detail analysis of the site beforehand a wind turbine installer should use the optimum size turbine to maximise power production from the wind speeds of each given site. The analysis of a site beforehand can increase costs for the individual turbine owner but it could make all the difference.
The cost of wind turbines once delayed its implementation across the world, but now the average cost of a wind turbine are decreasing year on year, as a result of an increasing supply and competitive market. Cost factoring the purchase of the equipment most wind turbines can reach a rate less than 25 pence per kilowatt hour.
As a general rule wind turbines cost between £1500 – £3000 per kW. The average wind turbine installed in the UK is between 2.5kW and 6kW with an expected installation cost of around £10,000 to £25,000. Bases of the current feed in tariffs, these wind turbines located in an exposed setting could have a return of around 10-20%. Based on a 20% return these wind turbines could pay for themselves in around 7 years.
Lewis MacNulty is a Electrical Engineer, Green Entrepreneur and author of numerous articles on green technology, eco-economics and enviro-politics. He is one of the leading engineers at WDSGreenEnergy, a leading green technology supplier Find WDS Green Energy on Facebook and follow WDS Green Energy’s twitter feed.
Interesting article about the green deal and wind turbines. No doubt the green deal is going to present both domestic and commercial property owners a huge opportunity in the new year. I am not entirely sure on the viability of wind turbines within this scheme however I do expect a huge amount of property stock to become better insulated over the next decade.