How to Generate Better Value for Money by Investing in Wind Technology
Small wind turbines are becoming increasingly popular in rural and urban sites throughout the UK. While Britain lags behind continental Europe in this area, the introduction of the new UK Feed-In Tariff is likely to herald an increased interest in wind technology. Denmark in particular continues to lead in wind technology and renewable energy in general, with the target of 20% of its energy mix being met by Renewable energy by the end of 2010. The UK government’s new financial incentive scheme is launched in April, and 2010 promises to be an interesting year for those interested in investing in wind technology.
Economic Benefits
With the right site, a wind turbine can seriously lower your energy bills. In the UK it is also possible to sell any excess electricity generated back to the national grid. With the right wind conditions, it is possible to generate a moderate second income stream. An average sized house will use 20,000 kWh in energy (both electricity and heating) annually, while an 11kW wind turbine will produce in the range 15,000 kWh to 40,000 kWh depending on the wind speed at your site. If you live in an area with an average wind speed of 5.5 m/s or higher typical of most of the UK (check your average wind speed online), then it is likely that you will have excess electricity that can be sold. You can check the average wind speeds in your area online although the best conditions to suit a small wind turbine can be had in rural areas that are not too exposed.Research has identified that there are 450,000 suitable locations to site turbines across the UK. In recent tests exposed sites in rural Scotland gave the best results. The tests were carried out using pole mounted turbines located in an unobstructed wind. A saving of 7,500kg of carbon dioxide a year was generated at these test sites. The majority of sites in the UK however, are situated in areas of moderate wind, therefore choosing the correct wind turbine for your site could be the most important decision you make.
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