Domestic wind-turbine trials now complete

Year long UK wide trials of domestic wind-turbines now complete

Location is critical - householders now know what will work

Potential energy generation from domestic small scale wind turbines equivalent to the amount of electricity to power 825,000 households per year

The Energy Saving Trust - the UK's leading organisation set up to help people fight climate change - has undertaken the first comprehensive in-situ monitoring of domestic small scale wind turbines in the UK. Performance data from 57 households was independently collected for a period of at least one year in accordance with a peer reviewed methodology. The results show that the performance of domestic wind small scale turbines is highly dependent upon location and proper installation of the technology.

Based on the study and with current technology it is estimated that around 450,000 UK householders would benefit from installing a domestic small scale wind turbine with the optimal geographic areas being rural locations in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. This represents a UK potential energy generation of 3,250GWh from domestic small scale wind turbines; equivalent to the amount of electricity to power 825,000 households per year. Pole mounted wind-turbines located in the most open rural parts of Scotland proved to deliver the greatest results saving in excess of £2,000 and 7,500kg of carbon dioxide annually.

The results show that no urban or suburban sites with a building mounted turbine generated more than 200kWh (or £26* of electricity) per annum, but the best performing building mounted turbine, located in a rural area of Scotland, generated nearly 1,000kWh (or £127* of electricity) per annum. Larger free standing pole mounted turbines, sited in rural locations, could generate in excess of 18,000 kWh (or £2,300*) per annum.

The study concludes that:

• Regulation needs to be in place for the industry to ensure a better basic standard level of information is provided to consumers regarding the potential from domestic small scale wind turbines. There needs to be a standardised power curve, so one wind turbine can be compared to another. These industry standards need to be agreed and the Trust is already working with the industry on behalf of the customer to ensure this happens.
• Installation standards need to be in place, with regard to how the products are installed, but all customers should only look to install the technologies that are certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme www.microgenerationcertification.org

As a result of the field trials, householders can be confident that the advice they receive from the Energy Saving Trust advice centres and website is accurate. They can call our advice line on 0800 512 012 or go online: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Can-I-generate-electricity-from-the-wind-at-my-home and add in their postcode and see whether the technology is suitable for where they live. In addition, as one of the key issues with this technology is wind speed, customers will be able to be advised on the best anemometric device to check the wind speed distribution.

The Energy Saving Trust carried out the trial to determine the actual in-situ performance of the technology to compare against theoretical models and manufacturers' claims. This comprehensive information has allowed the Energy Saving Trust to improve its advice for domestic consumers, inform policymaking, and provide feedback to help manufacturers and installers improve their products.

The study illustrates that, to date, the industry has used different methodologies to measure performance of domestic wind turbines, which is potentially confusing to the customer.

Colin Fairweather, 47, owns a cottage in the Howe of The Mearns, near Laurencekirk. He has a 6kW free-standing wind turbine in his back garden. He said: "While it might not be the right option for someone living in the centre of Glasgow, I would certainly recommend a wind turbine to anyone living in rural area. With help from the Energy Saving Scotland home renewable grant scheme, I incorporated in my new-build house a turbine and a ground source heat pump and have never looked back."

"We now pay on average around £50 a month for our energy and we are generating so much, I'm able to export some of it to the grid which is then credited to my quarterly electricity bill."

The study was undertaken as a partnership between the Energy Saving Trust, B&Q plc; E.ON UK; Centrica plc; ScottishPower; Scottish and Southern Energy; EDF Energy; NIE Energy; RWE npower; The Scottish Government, DECC and the University of Southampton.

Edward Hyams, Chairman of the Energy Saving Trust, said: "It's our role to help bring low-carbon technologies to the market that are reliable and user-friendly. Householders want to know who to trust for advice, so the standards we need relating to power curves and marketing of these products is key. Domestic small scale wind turbines are not the only answer to solving our energy needs, but they are part of a mix of measures because there is no one-size-fits-all solution. We are now undertaking monitoring of domestic solar thermal, heat pump, and LED technologies to improve our advice to consumers and will report the results over the next 12-18 months. In time we want to be able to advise householders on suitable low-carbon technology no matter where they live. Anyone wanting to get involved with these trials can email us on getinvolvedinthetrials@est.org.uk"

Anyone considering buying a domestic small scale wind turbine can speak to the Energy Saving Trust for independent advice on 0800 512012; www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.
* please note that these savings assume 100% generation is used on site or stored in batteries.
Ends.

Notes to editor:
The Energy Saving Trust's field trial of domestic small scale wind turbines is the most comprehensive technical monitoring exercise undertaken to date in the UK. The field trial was developed and launched in January 2007 to monitor the actual in-situ performance of a statistically robust sample of turbines installed at real peoples' homes. The turbines monitored in the field trial ranged in peak rating from 400W to 6kW.

The Energy Saving Trust identified a representative sample of participants and products to participate in the field trial. Sites were identified from a selection of grant recipients who had installed either building mounted or free-standing (pole mounted) domestic small scale wind turbines as well as further sites put forward by wind turbine manufacturers. The Energy Saving Trust has maintained a close relationship with householders participating in the trial throughout the duration of the project and the results of 57 sites make up the final report.

The report also discusses the results of the UK's first domestic small-scale wind customer feedback exercise. This exercise illustrates customer's motivations for purchasing the technology and recommends ways that advice from both the Energy Saving Trust and installers/manufacturers can be improved to potential customers.
As a result of this comprehensive study, potential customers should be aware of the key points before choosing to install a domestic wind turbine:

• Wind turbines do work but only when installed properly in an appropriate location.
• There is a potential for delivering carbon savings and energy generation totalling in excess of 3,250GWh from domestic small scale wind turbines in the UK.
• The highest potential for successful household small-scale wind installations is in Scotland.
• Wind speeds are difficult to predict and highly variable. The Energy Saving Trust recommends that potential customers first utilise the best available wind speed estimation tools and then, where appropriate, install anemometry to determine the wind speed distribution.
• The introduction of product and installation standards will require that information from specific products is easily comparable.
• Customers are advised to only consider domestic small scale wind products and installers that are certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).
• The Energy Saving Trust advice network is able to provide advice to customers to help determine if a wind turbine may be the right choice for their homes.
• Domestic consumers should consider energy produced from small-scale wind as one option from a potential suite of microgeneration technologies.

Download the wind trials report here

The Energy Saving Trust is committed to helping customers save money and stop wasting energy and is currently undertaking a series of field trials in order to improve its consumer advice. These include solar thermal, LEDs and heatpumps.

About the Energy Saving Trust

Achieving our vision:

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/corporate/Corporate-and-media-site/About-us/Achieving-our-mission

The Energy Saving Trust is the UK's leading organisation set up to address the damaging effects of climate change by helping everybody to cut carbon dioxide emissions - the main greenhouse gas causing climate change - from their homes. We promote the efficient use of energy and a more low carbon lifestyle.

The Energy Saving Trust, through its network of "one-stop-shop" advice centres, provides free and impartial advice to consumers on saving energy, domestic renewables and greener transport, and is beginning to include water saving and waste reduction advice in its remit.

The Energy Saving Trust also works with retailers, builders and industry to make sure that energy efficient products are available for people to choose as well as advising government on policies that are needed to cut greenhouse gases.

The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Hilary Benn announced in December 2007 a new range of services to help people 'green' their homes. The Energy Saving Trust has been tasked with developing and delivering this vision through its extended services.

For more information visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk or call freephone 0800 512012 to speak to your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre.

Key achievements

• In 2008/09 the Energy Saving Trust helped nearly three million people save energy through its website and advice network.
• In 2007/08 the Energy Saving Trust's work stimulated annual CO2 savings of 1.2 million tonnes and lifetime savings of over 24 million tonnes.
• The Energy Saving Trust certifies over 3,000 Energy Saving Recommended products across 30 categories by working with more than 300 manufacturers and retailers.
• The Energy Saving Trust provides the leadership and technical guidance. demanded by the housing construction industry through 90,000 technical contacts and in-depth low carbon advice to eight developers and local authorities.
• The Energy Saving Trust supports 80 local authorities with in-depth consultancy advice on reducing CO2 emissions in their locality.
• Last year the Energy Saving Trust helped nearly 6,000 organisations save money and CO2 emissions through advice on low carbon transport.
• The Energy Saving Trust ensures the robustness of household energy efficiency and microgeneration technologies by working with Government, energy suppliers and industry on field trials including micro-wind turbines, heat pumps, advanced heating controls, LEDs and solid wall insulation.
• To date, the Energy Saving Trust has administered over 7,000 household grants for micro-generation installations through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme totalling £9.7 million.