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North East Renewable Energy Directory
Design Issues
Building Regulations:
If you wish to install a wind turbine which will be attached to your house, Building Regulations will normally apply. Size, weight and force exerted on fixed points would be considerable. Building Regulations also apply to other aspects of the work such as electrical installation. It is advisable to contact an engineer who can provide the necessary advice. If the wind turbine is not attached to your house, then only the electrical installation and connection will be captured by the requirements of the Building Regulations.
Source:
www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/genpub/en/1115315762558.html
Planning permission:
Recently, micro-wind turbines narrowly missed being exempted from planning permission. The Government decided that before this could happen, standards needed to be set on noise and vibration to ensure neighbours are not disturbed by the development. For that reason, permitted development rights (i.e. exemption from planning permission) for wind turbines will be implemented as soon as these standards and safeguards have been drawn up and put in place.
For wind turbines to be exempt from planning permission, subject to the new standards and safeguards on, in particular, noise and vibration and they must meet the following criteria:
Wind turbines on buildings
- Less than 3m above ridge (including blade)
- Diameter of blades less than 2m
- No permitted development in conservation areas or World Heritage Sites
Stand-alone turbines
- Less than 11m in height (including blade)
- Diameter of blades less than 2m
- At least 12m from a boundary
- They should not face onto and be visible from the highway in conservation areas or World Heritage Sites
- They should not be installed in the curtilage of a listed building
Until the above-mentioned standards are set, you should contact your local planning authority.
For further information, contact the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG)
www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/contact.
Source:
www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/565952
The following points constitute a simple guide to installing a small scale domestic wind turbine:
1. Get a reliable estimate of the wind speed at the proposed site
2. Mount the turbine as high as possible and ensure that it is well clear of obstructions (ensure that the turbine can be easily reached for inspection and maintenance).
3. Try to have a clear, smooth fetch to the prevailing wind, e.g. over open water, smooth ground or on a smooth hill.
4. Use the correct cable with adequate current carrying capacity (particularly important for low voltage machines).
5. Check the need for planning permission and try to minimise the environmental impact of the turbine.
Connection issues
Despite efforts by the electricity distribution companies to streamline their procedures, the process of obtaining an electrical connection to the public electricity network can be complex.
A wind turbine can feed electricity into the national grid, so long as the grid connection complies with technical and safety requirements. The national grid carries electricity at very high voltages, with a network of transformers to ‘step down’ the voltage until it reaches 230-240 Volts for domestic supply. Exporting power to the grid will involve making a connection at an appropriate voltage.
The power from a variable source, such as the wind, will tend to fluctuate. These fluctuations need to be moderated electronically so that the exported electricity matches the grid. Both the voltage and the frequency of the current needs to conform, for the very good reason that many electrical appliances would be damaged otherwise (230/240 Volts at a frequency of 50 Hertz is the UK standard for domestic supply).
The technical issues around grid connection need to be discussed with the appropriate network operator. Compliance with the relevant Engineering Recommendation is a legal requirement and is a job for a qualified engineer.
- Structural issues
It is important when mounting a domestic wind turbine on the side of a house or roof that the structure itself is robust enough to support the installation.
- Assessing the site
The most important aspect of any potential site for a wind turbine is, obviously, the strength of the wind. Wind speed can be measured by using an onsite anemometer which can be hired or contracted out to consultants. The more data that is collected the better the estimates for potential electricity generation will be.
In general, small scale wind turbines start to generate electricity in wind speeds of approximately 2.5-4 m/s with their rated optimum wind speed being 10-12 m/s. For instance, a 6 kW turbine at a wind speed of 5 m/s will generate an average of 11,000 units of electricity a year.
Small variations in wind speed can produce large changes in energy output. An 8m/s wind will produce 80% more energy than a 6m/s wind. Wind speed increases with height and it is essential that the knowledge of the local wind resource is comprehensive to maximise the potential of any give turbine.
Due to the relative immature of the technology and market there is not much data currently available on whether the siting of a turbine on a roof reduces yield due to turbulence or increases it due to a “wind flow enhancement” process.
