UK: Ecotricity launches new approach to transform small wind sector

The windmill is designed and manufactured in Britain by Ecotricity’s new subsidiary, Britwind, which it formed in 2014, and who already produce Britain’s best-selling small windmill, the Britwind R9000. 

The new machine, dubbed the Britwind H15, is set to bring big wind performance to small wind, generating electricity at almost half the cost of the best selling small windmill on the market. 

Ecotricity is also introducing a radical new approach, creating a new kind of green energy partnership between itself and its customers – making green energy where they live and work and sharing the benefits with them. 

Dale Vince, Ecotricity founder, said: “The government’s assault on the renewables industry has led to two thirds of small wind companies going bust in the past two years, so when we launched Britwind we knew we needed to do something radically different. 

“The Britwind H15 is at the cutting edge of windmill technology – it’s super efficient, cheap to maintain, and cuts the cost of making energy. Our commercial model is also at the cutting edge – we make the energy with our customers, where they live and work, and we share the benefits with them. 

“It’s about democratising the energy market – our aim is to bring lower bills and energy independence to homes and businesses in Britain, and to export the same opportunity to other parts of the world.” 

Ecotricity will have a stand at the EWEA conference, which takes place from 17-20 November 2015 at the Paris Expo. 

As well as launching the new windmill at the conference, Ecotricity will also host a side event entitled Democratising Energy – the event will feature a talk from Sandrine Dixson-Declève, the director of the Prince of Wales EU Corporate Leaders Group, who will be speaking on global subsidies and the campaign to halt fossil fuel subsidies. 

The Britwind H15

Standing at an average height of 25m, the horizontal-axis windmill has a power rating of 15kW. It’s available in two versions to optimise use in higher or lower wind speed sites, offers high reliability, and low maintenance, with only three wearing parts.

H15 windmills will be suitable for many types of landowners from farmers and rural properties, to schools, sporting clubs, as well as small, medium and large businesses. Combining design innovation with an end-to-end service enables Ecotricity to offer two options to customers: to allow the installation of windmills at their home or business and share the benefits; they are also available for people to buy.