Eco lovers keen to install their very own small-scale wind turbine can now ‘try before they buy' with the launch of a new online wind estimator tool which will work out how much power a turbine would generate and how much money it could save on those pesky power bills...
Installing a wind turbine to provide power for your home or office is not as far fetched as it may sound, and green gurus are starting to make it ever more mainstream. However, there are still doubts floating around as to their effectiveness - Conservative Leader David Cameron had a turbine on his roof in central London, but recently removed it as he found it to be ineffective.
Now, The Carbon Trust is introducing a new online tool which it hopes will prove to consumers and prospective turbine owners that they can indeed be highly effective.
The new online ‘Wind Yield Estimation Tool' will help to show people how much power a turbine could generate as well as what the cost and carbon savings could potentially be.
The launch follows a Carbon Trust report published last year which found that turbines in some rural locations can provide cheaper electricity than the grid, but in many urban situations, roof-mounted turbines may not pay back the turbine's own carbon footprint from the energy used to manufacture it.
Thus, the tool aims to ensure that small-scale turbines are installed in locations where they will deliver the most carbon and cost savings.
Mark Williamson, Director of Innovations at the Carbon Trust, said, "In the right location small-scale wind turbines can provide both cost and carbon savings, but anyone considering installing a turbine should use the new Carbon Trust wind estimator to check before proceeding with actual onsite wind monitoring.
"There has been some confusion around the true performance of small wind turbines but this online tool should help to clear that up."
How to use it
Visit www.carbontrust.co.uk/wind-estimator and type in a postcode and details about the surrounding landscape. The tool will then calculate (for free) the annual mean wind speed as well as the likely energy generation and carbon savings.
The high tech tool has also been created using 30 years of data from the Met Office's 220 weather stations, which is key to giving a good picture of wind patterns.
If the wind estimator tool suggests a site has good energy generation and carbon saving potential, the Carbon Trust recommends carrying out on-site wind speed monitoring for up to a year.
To optimise generating capacity, turbines need to be positioned above the height of nearby trees and buildings and as high as practicably possible.
Gordon Miller, Founder of eco homes portal www.whatgreenhome.com, told TheMoveChannel.com, "The UK badly lags behind other countries, including Italy and India, in installed wind power capacity so any tool that helps homeowners to assess whether wind power, or any other renewable energy source, is viable and workable for their home is to be welcomed.
"But I fear that many homeowners may be disappointed to find out that for most of us the electricity generated from domestic wind power is small compared to our individual needs, and that the pay back period on purchase and installation costs can be a lengthy one.
"David Cameron MP, Leader of the opposition, recently had the wind turbine installed on his house roof in central London removed because it wasn't effective.
"Arguably, there are more effective domestic renewable electricity generating sources than wind power, such as solar photovoltaics, ground source heat and air source heat pumps, and biomass.
"The first step for any homeowners to take, however, is to ensure they do not waste energy and money, and generate excessive CO2 emissions, through having a poorly insulated home.
"Government grants for loft and cavity wall insulation are available at www.governmentgrants.co.uk."Grants for the installation of renewable power technologies, including wind power, can be found at the Low Carbon Buildings Programme website at www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk," added Mr Miller.
Installing a wind turbine to provide power for your home or office is not as far fetched as it may sound, and green gurus are starting to make it ever more mainstream. However, there are still doubts floating around as to their effectiveness - Conservative Leader David Cameron had a turbine on his roof in central London, but recently removed it as he found it to be ineffective.
Now, The Carbon Trust is introducing a new online tool which it hopes will prove to consumers and prospective turbine owners that they can indeed be highly effective.
The new online ‘Wind Yield Estimation Tool' will help to show people how much power a turbine could generate as well as what the cost and carbon savings could potentially be.
The launch follows a Carbon Trust report published last year which found that turbines in some rural locations can provide cheaper electricity than the grid, but in many urban situations, roof-mounted turbines may not pay back the turbine's own carbon footprint from the energy used to manufacture it.
Thus, the tool aims to ensure that small-scale turbines are installed in locations where they will deliver the most carbon and cost savings.
Mark Williamson, Director of Innovations at the Carbon Trust, said, "In the right location small-scale wind turbines can provide both cost and carbon savings, but anyone considering installing a turbine should use the new Carbon Trust wind estimator to check before proceeding with actual onsite wind monitoring.
"There has been some confusion around the true performance of small wind turbines but this online tool should help to clear that up."
How to use it
Visit www.carbontrust.co.uk/wind-estimator and type in a postcode and details about the surrounding landscape. The tool will then calculate (for free) the annual mean wind speed as well as the likely energy generation and carbon savings.
The high tech tool has also been created using 30 years of data from the Met Office's 220 weather stations, which is key to giving a good picture of wind patterns.
If the wind estimator tool suggests a site has good energy generation and carbon saving potential, the Carbon Trust recommends carrying out on-site wind speed monitoring for up to a year.
To optimise generating capacity, turbines need to be positioned above the height of nearby trees and buildings and as high as practicably possible.
Gordon Miller, Founder of eco homes portal www.whatgreenhome.com, told TheMoveChannel.com, "The UK badly lags behind other countries, including Italy and India, in installed wind power capacity so any tool that helps homeowners to assess whether wind power, or any other renewable energy source, is viable and workable for their home is to be welcomed.
"But I fear that many homeowners may be disappointed to find out that for most of us the electricity generated from domestic wind power is small compared to our individual needs, and that the pay back period on purchase and installation costs can be a lengthy one.
"David Cameron MP, Leader of the opposition, recently had the wind turbine installed on his house roof in central London removed because it wasn't effective.
"Arguably, there are more effective domestic renewable electricity generating sources than wind power, such as solar photovoltaics, ground source heat and air source heat pumps, and biomass.
"The first step for any homeowners to take, however, is to ensure they do not waste energy and money, and generate excessive CO2 emissions, through having a poorly insulated home.
"Government grants for loft and cavity wall insulation are available at www.governmentgrants.co.uk."Grants for the installation of renewable power technologies, including wind power, can be found at the Low Carbon Buildings Programme website at www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk," added Mr Miller.
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