News
BWEA launches essential guide on
micro
wind turbine installations
Thursday 21 December 2006
 BWEA has launched new guidance on installing small wind turbines, aimed at potential consumers from the domestic, public and business sector. The guide contains information on choosing and siting a small wind system, electricity savings, payback times, grant funding and how to contact manufacturers.
Introducing the new guide, Chris Tomlinson, BWEA’s Director of Operations said:
“This document is an essential tool which we believe will help householders and organisations understand the key issues relevant to small wind systems to help customers make informed decisions about potential purchases. BWEA would like to stress that this is intended as a preliminary guide and should be supported by further information from turbine manufacturers”
Small wind systems have hit the headlines in recent months and BWEA would like to see public expectation managed appropriately. The new briefing sheet is intended to ensure that useful and high quality information is readily available to the public. In particular, BWEA considers careful siting of small wind systems and knowledge of wind speed to be essential, highlighting the need for detailed research before a small wind system is installed. For example, areas of high turbulence or very low wind speeds will not produce the best returns while more exposed locations are typically favourable.
Tomlinson continued:
“While small wind is not a magic solution for the urgent need to secure energy supplies and combat climate change it can make a small but valuable contribution and can help improve awareness of renewable energy technologies and the need to conserve energy. This guide sets out to help realise that potential and promote successful installations”
BWEA's new guidance on small wind systems can be downloaded from www.bwea.com/pdf/briefings/smallsystems.pdf
Notes:
- BWEA is the trade and professional body for the UK wind and marine renewables industries. BWEA is at the forefront of the development of the UK wind, wave and tidal stream industries, promoting and protecting its members' interests to Government, business and the media
- The Government intention for 20% of electricity supplies to be met by renewables by 2010 is widely anticipated to be met mainly by wind energy. Small wind systems could contribute up to 2.1 TWh or 0.7% of UK electricity supply towards this target, one of the conclusions of BWEA’s analysis of the sector conducted as part of the Government's Energy Review. See www.bwea.com/energyreview
- Small renewable generation systems can help increase awareness of energy efficiency - see 'Seeing the light: the impact of microgeneration on the way we can use energy', October 2005, Sustainable Consumption Roundtable, see www.sd-commission.org.uk/publications/downloads/Micro-generationreport.pdf
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