Wind Power (For Electricity)

What Is wind power?

Wind turbines are a technology that provides electricity from the wind. The wind drives the blades of the turbine, which in turn drive a generator inside the hub of a unit that creates electricity.

How much does it cost?

Wind turbines can be relatively good value for money depending on your location and needs. We recommend free-standing turbines that are mounted on towers and can generate anything from 800w to 10kw. The prices range from £3-6k for the smallest turbines and up to £25 - 30k for a 10kw turbine. The most common enquiry is for a 5kw turbine and this is in the region of £16k installed.

What do Wind Turbines give me for my money?

• They provide you with electricity when the wind blows over 3m/s (below this the turbines do very little).
• Wind Turbines can heat your hot water by powering the immersion heater in a tank.
• Low maintenance wind turbines are avaialable, and have a very small footprint on your land.
• As a general rule, the larger the turbine, the greater the amount of power you can generate. Simiarly, a turbine will generate more power if situated in an area which benefits from greater wind and elevation.

How do I know if my school is suitable?

• The best locations are on a hill with a smooth slope facing west. This allows a smooth uninterrupted flow of wind at a sensible height. Coastal regions are especially good.
• The less neighbouring buildings the better. Avoiding conservation areas also helps – planning authorities require a lot of considerations to be taken into account, particularly from a visual perspective.
• Freesource try to avoid roof mounted applications as there is no guarantee these devices will not damage your property through vibration.
• If you do not have a good wind speed, are in a built up area, are surrounded with trees, do not have sufficient ability to go high enough, Freesource will advise you to consider other forms of renewable energy.

How do I connect a Wind Turbine to my electricity supply and can it make me money?

• Wind Turbines are connected to your school through an inverter that converts the raw energy into that which can be used in your electrical appliances.
• You can connect your Wind Turbine to the national grid through a meter and grid connection. If you are in a remote location this can be expensive and may be worth considering off-grid connections using battery storage.
• If you wish to sell your electricity to the grid you need to register with the grid as a micro generator and then contact an energy provider who is willing to buy your electricity. They will agree a price to buy your electricity from you.
• If you are grid connected your system works when the grid works. If the grid goes down, your system will not function. If you wish to use a wind turbine as an independent supply you will need to invest in battery storage.
• One important consideration is the length of your connection. The longer the distance between your turbine and your power requirement, the more power you will lose in the cable.

What wind power products do Freesource Energy offer?

Freesource Energy are a distributor of Fortis, Westwind and Ampair wind turbines. The type of wind turbine recommended would depend on your individual requirements.

What do I get for my investment?

• Freesource Energy will always take time to discuss your needs and plans before specifying a product. Once you are happy to proceed and we have evaluated remotely Freesource Energy will send round a fully qualified installer to survey your property. Due to the complexity involved in this process you would be charged a fee of £195 + VAT, which is fully refundable upon installation.
• All Freesource quotes include product costs and installation so you know the total cost of the product. Where VAT applies this will be at a reduced rate of 5%.

Funding

Please see our funding page.

Do I get any warranties?

Freesource Energy offer a 1 year workman's ship guarantee. Manufacturers warranties can vary in type but typically they are from 2-10 years.

Do I need planning permission?

You will definitely require planning permission. The first step is to let them know your intentions as early as possible. Take photographs of your site and prepare as much detail as possible to support your reasons for investing. Planners will be especially concerned with the visual impact on the area and may have other concerns as well.

How often should I maintain my system?

This varies on both the type of turbine installed and it's location, but a maintenance plan can be discussed on the initial site survey and quotation.

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