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Small Wind Case Studies

Corrour Station - 2.5 kW battery charging wind turbine Proven Energy turbine at Corrour Station

Corrour Station at Fort William, Inverness-shire is an unmanned railway station and one of the most remote in the UK. The complete lack of an electricity supply and the resulting absence of lights caused problems for passengers boarding and disembarking from trains on dark mornings and evenings.

In early 1993 First Scotrail invested in a Proven 2.5 kW battery charging wind turbine that incorporated a sensor to measure light levels and a timer programmed with train schedules. At dusk the sensor detects light is required and the timer ensures that the lights switch on half an hour before a train arrives and switch off half an hour after it departs. The planning application for the scheme received approval without difficulty.

The wind turbine itself is still running after 13 years (at the time of going to press) of continuous service.

Berwickshire Housing Association - Three 1.5 kW rooftop turbines Swift wind turbines

Berwickshire Housing Association (BHA) installed Renewable Devices 'Swift' domestic wind turbines on two houses in Whitsome, and another in Ayton, Berwickshire, Scotland. BHA recognises that affordable housing is not just about the cost of rent, but also the costs of heating and running a property. By installing small scale wind on tenants' houses, BHA aims to lower tenants' fuel costs and reduce their reliance on fossil fuel based energy sources.

Director of Operations at BHA, Alastair Brown, says, "One aspect of our approach to addressing fuel poverty has been to focus on the use of renewable energy systems. These innovations provide energy saving features at a more manageable cost to tenants." BHA is hopeful that these installations will prove successful and is looking to install small scale wind at several other properties across its housing stock.

Rushcliffe Country Park - Two 5 kW wind turbines Iskra turbines at Rushcliffe Country Park

Two 5 kW turbines power an Environmental Education Centre in Rushcliffe Country Park, Ruddington, near Nottingham. The park was built on the sight of an old Ministry of Defense depot and ammunition dump.

Ladygrove Primary School - 2.5 kW turbine Ladygrove Primary School located in the Borough of Telford & Wrekin, West Midlands is one of the many schools which have installed their own wind turbines. The Proven wind turbine at Ladygrove Primary School generates electricity for use directly in the school with any surplus going to the national grid for local use. Ladygrove Primary School is also piloting a child-friendly web browser based monitoring system for interpretation of wind speed and electricity generated. The system is installed on the Borough of Telford & Wrekin's intranet and is available through the internet to other schools in the area. Proven turbine at Ladygrove Primary School

Ladgrove Primary School received funding for the £12,000 project from the Marches Energy Agency and the Government's Clear Skies funding scheme. The Proven 2.5kW turbine at the school generates annual energy savings for the school in the region of £400 and reduces CO2 emissions from fossil fuels by 3.5 tonnes a year. This is equivalent to planting 17.5 trees a year.

"The turbine is a highly visible statement of our commitment to sustainability," says Paul Sanderson, Ladygrove Primary's Head Teacher. "This project is providing an invaluable educational opportunity for the children and will act as a focus for pupils, parents and the local community to do all they can to protect the environment."

Ormiston Wire - 2.5 kW wind turbine

In July 2003 Ormiston Wire in Isleworth, Middlesex, installed a combined solar and wind energy scheme, which powers their factory. Ormiston Wire was one of the first industrial organisation to install a small wind turbine to reduce power consumption and save money. The 2.5 kW wind turbine has a 3.5 meter rotor diameter. The turbine feeds unregulated power into a Windy Boy grid connect inverter which in turn is connected to the distribution board at standard 230 Vac 50 Hz.

Proven turbine at Ormiston Wire

Ormiston Wire approached the planning department at the London Borough of Hounslow before the scheme was started and the local authority expressed support for the scheme as it enhanced the councils Agenda 21 policy. The planning application went in at the end of August 2002. Even though Ormiston Wire expected a within 8 weeks, the written permission was received at the end of June 2003. The delay was put down to the unique application as Hounslow had no other solar of wind schemes installed at the time and put a great deal of thought into the scheme.

Tebbutt's Farm - 5 kW wind turbine Iskra turbine at Tebbutt Farm

Iskra Wind Turbine Manufacturers Ltd installed a 5 kW wind turbine at Tebbutt's Farm, near Loughborough. The turbine is on a standard 12 meter tower and is one of the examples of small wind energy systems used at farms.