Wind turbines

Wind turbines harness the power of the wind and use it to generate electricity. Small systems known as "microwind" turbines can produce enough electricity for the lights and electrical appliances in a typical home.

40% of all the wind energy in Europe blows over the UK, making it an ideal country for microwind turbines.

• How do microwind turbines work?
• The benefits of wind electricity
• Is wind electricity suitable for my home?
• Making the most of wind electricity
• Costs and savings
• Find out 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 microwind turbine:

• Mast mounted: these are free standing and are erected in a suitably exposed position.
• Roof mounted: these are smaller than mast mounted systems and can be installed on the roof of a home.

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

Read more about selling your own energy

If the turbine is not connected to the electricity grid then unused electricity can be stored in a battery for use when there is no wind.

In the UK we have 40% of Europe's total wind energy

The benefits of wind electricity

• Harness a plentiful energy source: in the UK we have 40% of Europe's total wind energy.
• Cut your carbon footprint: wind electricity is green, renewable energy and doesn't release any harmful carbon dioxide or other pollutants.
• Cut your electricity bills: wind is free, so once you've paid for the initial installation your electricity costs will be reduced.
• Store electricity for a calm day: if your home isn't connected to the National Grid you can store excess electricity in batteries and use it when there is no wind.

Is wind electricity suitable for my home?

To tell if a microwind turbine is right for you, there are a few key questions to consider:

• Are there any large obstacles like buildings, trees or hills near your home? Microwind turbines work best in exposed locations, without turbulence caused by these type of obstacles
• Is your home is a windy area? To be effective you need an average windspeed of more than 6m/s.
• Is your home located away from the National Grid? Microwind systems are particularly suitable for use in remote locations where mains electricity is unavailable.
• Do you need planning permission? Microwind systems normally do require permission from your local authority, so check before you install a system.

Read more about planning permission for renewable energy technologies

Ideally, you should undertake a professional assessment of the local windspeed for a full year at the exact location where you plan to install a turbine.

To find out if a microwind generator is suitable for your home use our energy selector tool - coming soon.

Making the most of wind electricity

To make the electricity you produce go further:

• invest in energy efficient appliances - find energy saving products
• use energy when the wind is blowing - do your laundry on a windy day to take advantage of the free electricity
• charge up your batteries whenever you have excess electricity

Costs and savings

Costs for a roof mounted microwind system start at about £1,500. Larger mast mounted systems cost between £11,000 and £19,000, including installation. These provide enough electricity for lighting and appliances in a typical home.

Savings: we're currently monitoring a range of microwind systems to discover how much energy they save. At the moment there is not enough data from existing wind turbine installations to provide a figure.

Maintenance checks are necessary every few years, and a well-maintained turbine should last over 20 years. Battery storage life is typically between 6 and 10 years.

Find out more

What is suitable for your home?
To find renewable technologies to suit your home, try the Energy Saving Trust energy selector tool - coming soon

Technologies
For more information on home energy generation technologies, contact your local Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre on 0800 512 012.

For specific technology questions, visit the British Wind Energy Association

Funding
Find a grant to help with the costs of installing renewable and low carbon technologies - visit the DECC-funded Low Carbon Buildings Programme

To be eligible for a grant you will need to use a certified installer and products.

• Find certified installers
• Find certified products

Certification for products and installers within the low carbon buildings programme is now provided through the Microgeneration Certification Scheme managed by BRE Certification.

Selling your own electricity
You can make money on the electricity you generate or export back to the grid. Read more about selling your own energy

Sign up for regular email updates to help you save money and energy