Application to the home

There is a lot of debate as to whether the small scale micro-wind turbines (>2.5KW) make a worthwhile contribution to reducing household emissions and/or bills. Obviously this depends on whether the turbine has been sited correctly and the energy usage within the building you intend to supply. Thus when deciding whether such turbines are suitable for you, it is important that you make sure you are aware of your energy demand and use this information to size the turbine correctly.

The suitability of any specific micro-wind turbine, and how much that turbine can contribute towards reducing the amount of electricity you will need to buy in, relates to how efficiently you use electricity. For example if you are careless with leaving appliances on (or on standby), use low efficiency products, and standard light bulbs a 1KW turbine is unlikely to provide much of a contribution towards your electricity demand. However if you are energy conscious, use efficient appliances and low energy bulbs a 1KW turbine could provide much of your baseline electricity demand.

Effect of Climate

Obviously the amount of electricity generated by a wind turbine is dependent on the speed and consistency of air movements affecting the area, also known as the site’s wind resource. This means that regions close to the coast will benefit from a greater wind resource than continental interiors. As the features of the landscape affect climate systems, this must be considered when locating the turbine within the landscape.

Environmental impact

Noise
There is a low level audible noise produced when turbines are operating.

Visual impact
Some people find the visual impact of wind turbines offensive especially if they are sited in or near areas of historical/landscape significance.

Impact on wildlife
There is a risk to bird and insect life should they fly into the turbines, however the chances of this occurring is low.

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