Domestic Wind Turbines.
How does it work?
Dependent on your view on the matter, the UK is in an enviable position when it comes to wind. In fact we have around 40% of the wind energy available to Europe.
Positioned well, a wind turbine will generate sufficient electricity to: power appliances in your home, store for later use, sell back to the grid.
A typical domestic system would produce between 4,800 to 6,000 kWh and cost around £3,000 to £8,000 to purchase and install. This will save the average homeowner £500 to £800 per year on electricity bills.
What will it cost?
If you structure your payments efficiently, then it may cost you very little, nothing, or even make you money. Please read on.
Assuming the wind doesn't stop blowing and your property is run entirely on electricity and not gas or oil, we can moot the following example. If you pay for your installation by re-mortgaging by a typical £5,000 extra, this might add say £250 a year to your mortgage repayments, with interest rates at 5%. Generating your own energy may reduce your bought in energy requirements from, for example, £1,000, to around £400. Your expenditure has already fallen dramatically, you are in fact better off by £100 per annum. Selling any excess electricity back to the grid may reduce your expenditure to zero, or if you're lucky enough to get moderate to strong wind for extended periods, you may actually make money.
Remember too that the solar savings are tax free, so every pound you save on electricity is typically worth around £1.30 of your taxable income.
Grant savings.
Grant savings. With a maximum of £1,000 per Kw of installed capacity, subject to an overall maximum of £2,500 or 30% of the relevant eligible costs, whichever is the lowest.
Please note:
There is currently a £2,500 grant cap per household for micro-generation, solar heating and other technologies. You may apply for grant towards more than one technology, subject to the maximum overall of £2,500.
What do I need?
In addition, before receiving a grant you are required to:
a) insulate the whole of the loft of the property to meet current building
regulations e.g. 270mm of mineral wool loft insulation or suitable alternative;
b) install cavity wall insulation (if you have cavity walls);
c) fit low energy light bulbs in all appropriate light fittings;
d) install controls for your heating system to include a room thermostat
and a programmer or timer.
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