Wind turbine

[Costa]

Hi everyone,
We are looking at putting up a wind turbine but have no experience or really any idea of how to go about doing it.
I’m looking for any ideas of how to go about installing an on farm wind turbine or if anyone can recommend a company they have dealt with that could help I’d really appreciate it.
Many thanks
Costa

 

[Still Farming]

Hi everyone,
We are looking at putting up a wind turbine but have no experience or really any idea of how to go about doing it.
I’m looking for any ideas of how to go about installing an on farm wind turbine or if anyone can recommend a company they have dealt with that could help I’d really appreciate it.
Many thanks
Costa

Your location may help.
What are you going to feed.
Sheds, house, caravan?
What size turbine and mast height?
Planning permissions?
Grid connections or stand alone batteries?
More info needed possibly.

 

[Farmer 059]

Hi Costa, first and foremost, do you have accurate wind speed measurements for your land (not just a desktop average)? We erected an 11kw Gaia 3 phase turbine, and whilst it’s been ultra reliable, it has not delivered quite as much output as we expected from the survey.
Next question, is there a convenient grid connection and have DNO given any idea if there is export capacity?
What size of turbine?
How close to neighbours and how will they react?
We also have solar ground mounted and that would be my first choice unless you are in a windy location - the only way to find out is professional monitoring in my view.
All in all, we are pleased with our set up and plan to renew as and when it needs it as demand will only increase.
We use Windcare for servicing and always get good service. Reliability is key and sadly a number of turbine brands have gone under leaving lack of support and costs for repairs sometimes running into many thousands for owners to cover.
Others will have a view, but do your homework and check any facts you are given.

 

[Costa]

I thought I

Your location may help.
What are you going to feed.
Sheds, house, caravan?
What size turbine and mast height?
Planning permissions?
Grid connections or stand alone batteries?
More info needed possibly.

I thought I was probably being a bit vague, I will confirm the details I post some more details tomorrow. Thanks

 

[Costa]

Hi Costa, first and foremost, do you have accurate wind speed measurements for your land (not just a desktop average)? We erected an 11kw Gaia 3 phase turbine, and whilst it’s been ultra reliable, it has not delivered quite as much output as we expected from the survey.
Next question, is there a convenient grid connection and have DNO given any idea if there is export capacity?
What size of turbine?
How close to neighbours and how will they react?
We also have solar ground mounted and that would be my first choice unless you are in a windy location - the only way to find out is professional monitoring in my view.
All in all, we are pleased with our set up and plan to renew as and when it needs it as demand will only increase.
We use Windcare for servicing and always get good service. Reliability is key and sadly a number of turbine brands have gone under leaving lack of support and costs for repairs sometimes running into many thousands for owners to cover.
Others will have a view, but do your homework and check any facts you are given.

Thanks for the reply, given us something to think about. We’re North Shropshire and a few neighbours have turbines so I don’t think wind would be too much of an issue but an accurate wind speed measurement at the planned location is a very good idea.

 

[DaveGrohl]

As you’re in England the likelihood of you getting planning is pretty remote unless things change.

 

[Farmer 059]

Thanks for the reply, given us something to think about. We’re North Shropshire and a few neighbours have turbines so I don’t think wind would be too much of an issue but an accurate wind speed measurement at the planned location is a very good idea.

Neighbours would be my first port of call - how have their turbines performed against projections. Topography will affect a turbine so location is key. Then how far to DNO lines and your buildings.

 

[How much]

It I assume depends on what size you are planning ? maybe a 6 KW kingspan may be OK but anything bigger say 100 to sub 500 KW I would advise against. Having been involved with 2 I would not get involved again .
Firstly it will take at least 3 years to get your planning permission ,
secondly desk top wind studies are a complete wast of time , you have to have a proper wind study done from an on site wind anemometer assuming there is some reasonable sized investment going in to it for a 100 to 500 kw unit you simply cant rely on some consultants modeled wind data it is invariably wrong and a small % wrong make a ££££ difference
3rd pretty much all "farm Sized " wind turbine manufactures sub 400KW size have pretty much all gone bust, Enudrance , CF , proven Etc mainly because the government pulled the plug on FIT for wind , the result it patchy parts availability and consolidation of service providers therefore expensive maintenance contracts.
Bigger 500Kw machines maybe sidestep this , but will be significantly more costly to purchase and run anyway
4th insurance if you can even find a provider it is pretty much a waste of time as if you want to actually make a claim there will almost certainty be a clause that gets them off the hook for paying for anything.
5th although it will be improving as energy cost increase the amount you are paid for the energy you sell is to little FIT is I assume currently nil or very little on new build . if you use the energy this is of less concern as its value to you is probably is 15 to 19 pence per KW but the economics of producing and selling power for sub 10p per kw is is think pointless.

Solar is much less likely to be breakdown , be damaged , crack bed pates or break gearboxes or blades and is less costly to service, does not need insurance and is quick to install sadly it does not work in the dark but overall , significantly less hassle.

 

[Nigel Wellings]

It I assume depends on what size you are planning ? maybe a 6 KW kingspan may be OK but anything bigger say 100 to sub 500 KW I would advise against. Having been involved with 2 I would not get involved again .
Firstly it will take at least 3 years to get your planning permission ,
secondly desk top wind studies are a complete wast of time , you have to have a proper wind study done from an on site wind anemometer assuming there is some reasonable sized investment going in to it for a 100 to 500 kw unit you simply cant rely on some consultants modeled wind data it is invariably wrong and a small % wrong make a ££££ difference
3rd pretty much all "farm Sized " wind turbine manufactures sub 400KW size have pretty much all gone bust, Enudrance , CF , proven Etc mainly because the government pulled the plug on FIT for wind , the result it patchy parts availability and consolidation of service providers therefore expensive maintenance contracts.
Bigger 500Kw machines maybe sidestep this , but will be significantly more costly to purchase and run anyway
4th insurance if you can even find a provider it is pretty much a waste of time as if you want to actually make a claim there will almost certainty be a clause that gets them off the hook for paying for anything.
5th although it will be improving as energy cost increase the amount you are paid for the energy you sell is to little FIT is I assume currently nil or very little on new build . if you use the energy this is of less concern as its value to you is probably is 15 to 19 pence per KW but the economics of producing and selling power for sub 10p per kw is is think pointless.

Solar is much less likely to be breakdown , be damaged , crack bed pates or break gearboxes or blades and is less costly to service, does not need insurance and is quick to install sadly it does not work in the dark but overall , significantly less hassle.

Some very good points in the above which I totally agree with from experience of owning solar and turbine plus dealing with insurance industry. My main points;
1- Solar far less hassle than wind totally agree. Watch out though all the cowboys have jumped back into it again as they did with both turbines and solar in the initial phase a few years ago. The contracts need looking at very closely.
2- Insurance point is totally valid. 10 years or so ago a number of insurers jumped head first into the renewable energy market (turbines, panels, AD plants etc), premiums were probably too cheap, a few years later they experience a number of claims and the majority of Insurers have run for the hills. The market is now very limited for turbines, panels, AD Plants and Biomass boilers, premiums can be high and sometimes dodgy foreign Insurers. Do your research on Insurance at an early stage and take independent advice as to what it actually covers.