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Wind Turbines & FAQWhat is the life of a turbine?Proven Turbines have a design life of 25 years. What is the payback time? This is determined by a number of factors:- wind speeds available over the year at your site; whether you are able to export electricity; the price you obtain for your surplus; the price you obtain for ROCs sold and the amount of any grants obtained. Ten years may be achievable. What is the lowest speed at which a turbine will generate electricity? Proven Turbines start producing electricity at wind speeds of 2.5m/s. What is the highest speed at which a turbine will generate electricity? There is no limit. The design of the Proven Flexible Blade System enables the turbine to spill the destructive power of high winds. In high winds the blades cone out of the wind thus the rotor will run up to a certain speed and no faster giving you close to rated output even in storm conditions. Where can I find out about my local average wind speed? Go to the UK Wind Speed Database which can be accessed via the British Wind Energy Association website: http://www.bwea.com/noabl/index.html What wind speeds are required to make a turbine worth installing? An average wind speed of 4-5m/s is generally sufficient providing the site is sufficiently exposed to prevailing winds and not near obstacle such as buildings and trees. How can I calculate exactly what the wind speed is at my site? Install a small anemometer on your site for at least 6 months (a year is preferable to get precise data). AWE Energy can assist you with wind measurement at your site. How much space do I need for a turbine? Each turbine + tower requires, for installation purposes, an area of land at least equivalent to 2.5 times the height of the mast and a width of the rotor diameter plus 2 m are required. Guyed towers require more space however. Lorry access is also necessary. For servicing the mast will need to be lowered. How often does the turbine require servicing? Servicing should be done annually by a qualified person. Servicing will require the mast to be lowered. Servicing can be done by yourself if you receive the correct training from AWE Energy. What is the warranty offered? 2 year standard warranty which can be extended to 5 years. Can I get a service / maintenance plan? AWE Energy can give you a quotation for a service / maintenance plan. Does the turbine continue to produce electricity in a power cut? No the turbine will automatically disconnect for safety reasons. How noisy are the turbines? Proven Turbines are direct drive so have no gearbox noise. They are designed to operate at low speeds so are quiet. In general the wind makes more noise than a turbine and it is unlikely that any noise can be heard at 50m away. How far away from the main dwelling / buildings should it be sited? Turbines can be sited as close between 20m and 500m from the receiving building. The further away the bigger the cable required. Can I dig my own foundations / cable trench? Yes, instructions will be provided. This can significantly reduce your costs. What is an Inverter? The inverter converts the power from the turbine and synchronises it with the Grid frequency and modulation. The inverter also disconnects the system in the case of a power cut. Can I mount a turbine on my house? Domestic houses are generally not strong enough to support a wind turbine. It may be possible on large, flat roof buildings such as tower blocks or offices. Do wind turbines harm birds / wildlife? Evidence shows that birds are unlikely to be damaged by Turbine blades. The RSPB feel that climate change is a greater threat and support the development of renewable energy. Do turbines affect television, radio or telecoms reception? Turbines are unlikely to have any affect on television or radio reception or mobile telecoms nor on any electrical equipment. Do wind turbines require Planning Permission? Yes, see section on Planning Permission. What are ROCs? ROCs are Renewable Obligation Certificates which are issued to all producers of renewable energy who have registered with OFGEN. ROCs are issued against all energy generated and can be sold to Electricity Supply companies to enable to them to meet their targets for production of renewable energy. |
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