wind turbine in well known shed

[breezer]

I posted here because its about said item not how it works.

Just seen the said wind turbine, and its price

fact: it costs £1500
pays back 5-7 years
it lasts 10 years

now look at it this way.

£1500 / 10 = 150

That means that if it lasts 10 years and it takes 7 years to pay for itself that means you have 3 years of "profit" 1 year = £150 total £450

Question, what if it doesnt last 10 years.
in say 8 years 150 / year may be worth £90 (ish)

Is it worth the hassle

(I do not know if purchace price inclueds installation) if doesnt how much will scafholding cost, as its not small and some what heavy.

 

[JohnD]

It's worse than that, because if you'd invested (or saved) the £1500 at the beginning, you would have had an income (lets say £60 p.a.) that you could have put towards your electricity bills... and at the end of the ten years, you'd still have your £1500 - instead of a pile of scrap.

If, instead of taking the income, you'd left it to grow, at compound interest (again assuming 4% p.a. and that it's tax-free because you had the sense to put it in an ISA) you'd have £2236.25 (ignoring inflation)

 

[Kes]

Hi,

Yes, the price includes a site survey and installation, as long as it's a standard bolt-to-the-wall job. There may be grants available so the price doesn't look too bad. However I wonder how effective they are, just how much juice do they generate? I believe the turbine is rated at 1kw at full load. I use about 15 kw a day, but of course in fits and bursts.

The turbine is bound to contribute to your electricity use (if the wind blows). I don't know if there would be a significant payback, but some pollution reduction is welcome.

Rgds.

 

[simon_d]

they dont even work durin a power cut. they need a mains supply to work!

 

[Thermo]

if its going when your not using electric so you create a surplus, how do you go about selling it back to the national grid?

 

[Gary_M]

What if there's no wind?

 

[Steve]

if its going when your not using electric so you create a surplus, how do you go about selling it back to the national grid?

With very great difficulty. Special equipment has to be installed to ensure the phases are in sync. And I dont think they pay very much anyway.

 

[Richardp]

I think the advantages are more environmental

 

[splinter]

I think the advantages are more environmental

It might help if they are cost effective also

 

[joe-90]

If gas and electric prices continue to rise as they have over the past three years it will be an absolute bargain.

Do they need planning permission?

 

[solo]

Planning permission, there's the thing. There was a bloke round here had his request for his £20,000 wind turbine turned down despite the fact that an adjacent local factory had six almighty monsters already. Where's the encouragement to save the environment there. We should all go back to coal fires.

 

[nstreet]

Personally I don't think that little thing in the 'well known shed' is going to generate that much power that it will save £150.00 p.a. Thats nearly 75% of my total annual electric bill. So it will take over 10 years before I would see any gains.

Siting these in residential areas decreases the efficiency because there isn't a constant breeze from one direction. The houses etc provide too much interference, so you wont 'capture' as much, unless you are going to mount it on a large pole some 20-30 ft high.

How much energy and green house gases did it take to make the thing, lots of moulded metal, plastics and paint coverings etc. So probably not that green.

As state by others, stick 1500 quid in the bank, in a high interest account and you will probably be better off in the long run.

 

[Richardp]

I think the advantages are more environmental

It might help if they are cost effective also

I think thats what screwed up the planet in the first place.

 

[noodlz]

Buying one of these and having it installed, maintained, etc. is probably a token gesture, admirable no doubt, but not going to make any significant difference.

This is where the government could invest millions/billions either itself or through the best firms/engineers/scientists to develop effective alternative systems that would help solve a problem they know they will have. The economies of scale and financial investment available to them would mean this is a much more realistic goal for them to achieve. While they're at it they could develop the most effective domestic units too.
If effective it could also lead the way and sell this technology throughout the world.

I know it's maybe a pipe dream to some, but look at the alternatives....I think at the moment that caption of guy with the head in the sand is the government over this issue. It will take vision and determination to create but it is achievable with best people utilised effectively.

 

[ellal]

A report Today seems to show that the B&Q turbine is indeed no more than a gimmick..

[code:1]Wind turbines save '£10 a year'

Many people would save just £10 a year on their electricity bill by installing a wind turbine on their roof, according to a leading turbine technology firm
This means that it would take 150 years for turbines- costing £1,500 - to save enough money to pay for themselves.
[/code:1]