Extracting power from the energy in wind is not a new idea. However, today it is more attainable than ever for people who wish to reduce their carbon footprint, contribute to the drive towards renewable energy and now, make an investment for the future.

If you live in a suitable location (enough space and wind), a small scale wind turbine can not only provide some or all of your energy usage, but excess energy produced can often be sold, providing a valuable income stream for years to come. Depending upon where you live, there are differing incentives and grants to help with the costs of installing a small wind turbine.

On the correct site, a small wind turbine can produce energy more efficiently than other solutions, giving you security and peace of mind for your energy usage for up to 20 years or more.

How do wind turbines work?

Wind turbines use large blades to catch the wind. When the wind blows the blades are forced round, driving a turbine which generates electricity. The stronger the wind, the more electricity produced.

There are two types of domestic-sized wind turbine:

Mast mounted: these are free standing and are erected in a suitably exposed position, often around 2.5kW to 6kW

Roof mounted: these are smaller than mast mounted systems and can be installed on the roof of a home where there is a suitable wind resource. Often these are around 1kW to 2kW in size.

If your small wind system is connected to the National Grid then you can make money by selling any generated electricity to an electricity supply company.