FAQ
Some frequently asked questions about small wind turbines:
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What Equipment do I need for my system? There are two types of system: Battery based and battery-less grid tie. For a battery based system you will require:
An inverter is not always required as low voltage lighting and appliances can be used. These will operate directly from the battery bank. This type of system has the advantage of independence from the grid. This is especially important in remote or rural areas where no mains electricity is available. Another advantage of this type of system is that you can still run your lights when there is a grid failure (power cut). For a battery-less grid tie system you will require:
A battery-less grid tie system is much more efficient in terms of energy and costs less to install. However the grid tie inverter must be connected to a mains supply and will only operate whilst the grid is online. |
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How much power will a ‘Wren Micro-turbine’ generate? On a good site, a single Wren Micro-turbine will generate 40Kwh per month given an average wind speed of 12mph. As an example, 40Kwh would power 10 compact fluorescent light bulbs for 12 hours per day, for a month. With higher average wind speeds, Wren has the potential to capture exponentially more power. |
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How much power will a ‘Mistral’ generate? Figures to be published soon… |
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How much power will a ‘Merlin’ generate? Figures to be published soon… |
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How much noise do small wind turbines make? All small wind turbines generate some acoustic emissions as their blades move through the air. However Samrey products are some of the quietest turbines around thanks to the low TSR (tip speed ratio) rotor blades. This means that the blades do not need to move as fast -so are much quieter. Depending on the wind conditions, Samrey products generate a swishing sound that is just audible above the background noise of the wind. |
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How much wind do Samrey small wind turbines need to operate? All Samrey small wind turbines are ‘rated’ at just 8m/s (17.8mph) instead of the usual 12m/s rating of other turbines. All of this means that Samrey turbines will capture more energy over a range of different wind speeds that are realistic on most sites. Do not be fooled by lesser turbines that use ‘peak power production’ as a marketing tool. On top of this, all of Samrey's products ‘cut-in’ at a much lower speed, which means that a Samrey wind turbine spends more time generating energy instead of ‘freewheeling’ in low wind speeds. |
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Do I need planning permission? This is a gray area and depends on the geographical area. For a substantial and permanent installation, most urban and sub-urban areas in the UK will require planning permission - however some rural areas will not. Factors such as tower height and proximity to other buildings will need to be taken into consideration. Check with your local planning department before permanently installing your small wind turbine. All types of micro-generation are being looked at favourably by UK planning departments. |
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Can I mount turbines to my house? It is possible to mount a Wren Micro-turbine to a house or building (often called a roof-mount). However this should be considered as a last resort as the turbine will be less efficient due to the turbulence caused by the building itself. This will result in less power production and will increase the stresses on the turbine due to turbulence. This is the case for all small wind turbines even though some manufacturers claim that their turbines actually work better in roof-mount applications. A specially designed anti-vibration system should be employed to help prevent vibrations from the turbine from being transmitted to the building. Samrey will soon be releasing our Anti-vibration roof mount bracket and freestanding tower kits for the Wren Micro-turbine. It is best practice to mount the turbine as high as possible away from obstructions such as buildings and trees. This will greatly improve the power production of the turbine. We do not advise that any turbine larger than 1 metre diameter is mounted on a house or building. |
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Do small wind turbines hurt birds or other animals? No. Many studies have been carried out worldwide to investigate whether small wind turbines present a hazard to wildlife. Reports of residential-scale wind turbines killing birds are very rare. Statistically, a sliding glass door is a greater threat to birds than a small wind turbine. |
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How can I export power back to the grid? When you have a substantial micro-generation system you may generate more renewable electricity than you consume from the national grid. When this happens you may ‘export’ your generated power back to the national grid. To do this you will need to agree an ‘export tariff’ with your utility company. For an installation of this type, it is best practice to employ the services of a renewable energy installer. |
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How much carbon dioxide will a ‘Wren Micro-turbine’ save? When producing 40Kwh per month, Wren will be saving 18Kgs of carbon dioxide (monthly) that would have otherwise been released by fossil fuel burning power stations. |
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How much carbon dioxide will a ‘Mistral’ save? Figures to be published soon… |
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How much carbon dioxide will a ‘Merlin’ save? Figures to be published soon… |
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Where can I buy Samrey products? All Samrey products are available from our growing network of dealers and installers. Installing a small wind turbine has some technical aspects – so our dealers will be able to help and advise you through the process. Please see the Dealers section to find your local outlet. |
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Do more blades mean more Power? No. It is common misconception that by adding more blades, more power can be obtained from a wind turbine. In fact adding more blade significantly reduces the overall performance of a wind turbine. In theory, an extremely efficient turbine would only have a single blade. Unfortunately, turbines with less than three blades suffer from cronic vibration and fatigue problems, and turbines with more than three blades suffer from increased drag, weight and tip noise. Three bladed turbines are now considered 'optimum' and are the industrial standard from micro turbines upto wind farm sized machines. |
Article Date: 22nd November 2006 |
