UK - Location, Location: Proper turbine placement key to viability

BWEA, UK’s leading renewable energy trade association, reiterated the importance of site assessment in deploying small wind systems, following yesterday’s launch of the Warwick Wind Trial report.

Commenting on the report Alex Murley, BWEA Small Systems Manager said: “The results show that turbines need to be placed in environments that offer good wind speeds. The UK is the windiest country in Europe and there are thousands of such sites, many of which have been used to good effect and offer owners of small wind systems not just savings on their electricity bills, but an opportunity to export surplus energy to the grid.”

The majority of the turbines in the Warwick report were placed in an urban environment known to offer, on average, lower electricity yields than rural open spaces. Wind system installers and small wind systems suppliers recommend that on-site wind speed data and careful measurements are taken over a period of time prior to installation. Only 4 of the 26 sites where test turbines were placed have an annual average wind speed of over 5 m/s, considered a lower limit of commercial viability.

Murley added: "Over the last three years BWEA has developed robust industry standards for both products and installers, to better educate would-be consumers on what the technology can achieve, if sited and installed correctly. The overwhelming majority of small wind system installations are a success - when they are sited properly they save money and energy. The Warwick trials do not show that small wind is not viable. We know that it is, and the experience of thousands of UK users bears this out.”

The UK leads the world in the manufacture of micro and small-wind turbines, exporting 40% of product to over 100 countries. BWEA called on the Government to support further growth of the sector by urgently addressing the planning system which is preventing thousands of UK households and businesses from generating their own clean green energy.

For more information, please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net