Wind Power
Britain's Wind Energy Resource
Britain has one of the best wind resources in Europe and this has already started to be utilized by commercial electricity generating companies who supply the national grid. There are already 75 commercial wind farms generating electricity in mainland Britain. These use 974 individual wind turbines capable of generating 530.5MWatts, enough to supply electricity to 349,000 homes.
However wind power is not just the preserve of large generating companies. There are many smaller wind generators available which are suitable for supplying electricity to individual houses, caravans or boats.
Siting a Wind Turbine
In order to get the best performance from a wind turbine it is important that it is positioned in a good strong and clear wind. The ideal site is on top of a gently sloping hill; steep or sharply changing contours should be avoided as these can give rise to turbulence, reducing the energy available and shortening the generators lifespan. The generator should be placed as high as is practically possible; wind speed increases with height. In any case it must be well clear of or above any obstructions, such as buildings or trees, which will disturb the wind flow.
How Much Power Can Be Generated
There are many factors which affect the actual power output which can be expected from any wind turbine installation at a specific site, however the following table may be useful as a rough guide.
| Turbine Size | Average Windspeed at Site | ||
| Blade Diameter in meters (m) | 3 m/s (7 mph) |
4.5 m/s (10 mph) |
6 m/s (13 mph) |
| 1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.7 |
| 2 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 2.9 |
| 3 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 6.5 |
| 4 | 1.4 | 4.9 | 11.6 |
The average wind speed varies with the seasons through the year. Typically twice as much power will be generated in the winter than in the summer.
Sage Green Technology has the solutions and experience to help you live in harmony with your natural surroundings.