Small Wind Turbines Today

Small wind turbines and their uses

Small wind turbines have many uses in both domestic and other applications. Their rise in popularity has been phenomenal and many homes throughout the UK now boast their own turbines. The uses for small turbines are varied and depending on your needs it is best to seek the opinions of a good retailer before committing to any purchase. For domestic use there are many options with regards to size and type, so research is a good idea. Remember that wind turbines need wind...it’s harder to get the optimum amount of wind for your turbine if you live in a built up area where local buildings may interrupt the flow of the wind before it reaches you. Small wind turbines can cut your utility bills and they are relatively cheap to purchase so as well as providing you with a cheap source of ecological energy they don’t cost the earth to install. Not only great for cutting domestic energy bills, small turbines are very useful on farms or campsites where outbuildings may be far from a regular source of electricity; a turbine can provide enough energy to keep the lights working in a public convenience or a cattle shed for instance. This is of great importance in remote communities where people do not always have the authorities to hand in emergencies.

Small wind turbines: are they right for you?

As the industry develops and improves technology surrounding small wind turbines, people are able to utilize them in areas which previously may not have been thought of as suitable sites. It is advisable to do a wind speed test before installing any wind turbines, as without a good amount of wind you may find that you are unable to generate a decent amount of power; no less than 5 m/s is thought to be the best amount for a wind turbine to generate a good amount of electricity. Today there are two main types of turbines for your home to choose from, these are Mast Mounted wind turbines and Roof Mounted wind turbines. Depending upon your home you may find that roof mounted are simpler to install but mast mounted may be better for areas with extra land to spare.

The benefits of small wind turbines

There are obvious benefits to small wind turbinesand once you consider all of these together you might find yourself wondering why you took so long to install your own!

• Small wind turbines can cut your utility bill
• Excess power can be stored in your battery or sold back to the National Grid
• Wind power is clean energy and will reduce your carbon footprint
• You can tailor your electricity usage to the weather; doing laundry on a windy day will allow you to take advantage of the free power as and when it is available

Remember that any structure on the outside of a home needs to be properly installed and in some cases, planning permission may be necessary. Seek advice from other people who currently have domestic wind turbines and find out the pros and cons of this energy saving innovation.