If you are considering using renewable energy in your home then you may be considering a domestic wind turbine. This is, in essence, a much smaller version of the turbines which dot the landscape, and can be used to provide electricity for your home. A domestic wind turbine can be fitted to your house or in a suitable location very close to the building, and the energy derived from it will go towards powering your home.
In order to fully power a modern home, the domestic wind turbine would need to span five metres from tip to tip on a site with good wind conditions. The average household consumption is approximately 4500 KWh and a domestic wind turbine with a span of two metres might yield 500 KWh per year in good conditions. The energy produced by the turbine can be used to charge batteries or be connected to the national grid. In many cases homeowners use a domestic wind turbine to supplement the energy they receive from the national grid, thus reducing their bills but not being entirely reliant on the wind power.
If you wish to install a domestic wind turbine, the first thing to establish is whether there is enough wind at your location for it to be a viable option. Visit the British Wind Energy Association website in order to use the NOABL database on local wind speeds.
It is possible to build your own domestic wind turbine, although this is by no means a simple task. If you are interested in exploring this option visit the British Wind Energy Association website British Wind Energy Association website for some pointers. Rural areas tend to be better sites for domestic wind turbines than urban areas due to issues with buildings blocking the wind.
For more information on wind power visit our section on Wind Power from where you can also access other related information.
Source: www.bwea.com 2009
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