Cost Ranges

In general prices are in the range of £1,500 - £3,000 per kW installed - we can provide up to date costs and information on any bulk discounts that may be applicable.

 

Systems up to 1kW will cost around £1500 whereas larger systems in the region of 2.5kW to 6kW would cost between £10,000 - £25,000 installed. These costs are inclusive of the turbine, mast, inverters, battery storage (if required) and installation, however it's important to remember that costs always vary depending on location and the size and type of system.

Households and communities who install generating technologies such as small wind turbines and solar panels will now be entitled to claim payments for the low carbon electricity they produce. A feed-in tariff (FiT) allows the Government to set above-market rates for electricity generated from renewable sources. By obliging electricity utility companies to buy renewable electricity at a fixed price for a fixed number of years, renewable installations become cost effective for the installer.

 

The new Feed in Tariffs (FiTs) will offer the following levels of income:

 

Technology	Scale	Year 1 (p/kWh)	Year 2 (p/kWh)	Year 3 (p/kWh)	Tariff Length
Wind	<1.5kW	34.5	34.5	32.6	20
Wind	1.5kW - 15kW	26.7	26.7	25.5	20
Wind	15kW - 100kW	24.1	24.1	23.0	20
Wind	100kW- 500kW	18.8	18.8	18.8	20
Wind	500kW- 1.5mW	9.4	9.4	9.4	20
Wind	1.5mW - 5mW	4.5	4.5	4.5	20

 

Output Ranges

 

Wind power is proportional to the cube of the wind's speed, so relatively minor increases in speed result in large changes in potential output. Individual turbines vary in size and power output from a few hundred watts to two or three megawatts (as a guide, a typical domestic system would be 2.5 - 6 kilowatts, depending on the location and size of the home).

The main factor affecting the output of wind turbines is the average wind speed. This varies for different areas of the UK but increases with the height of the wind turbine above ground level. Local topography can significantly impact upon local wind speeds. A small difference in wind speed will make a large difference to output.

The Table shows yearly output in kWh for different sizes of turbine:

Average Site Wind Speed m/sec
Yearly Output in kWh for turbines rated at:	4.0	5.0	6.0	7.0	8.0
600W	794	1,354	1,948	2,504	2,969
2.5kW	2,473	4,282	6,333	8,403	10,251
6kW	6,765	11,622	16,900	21,944	26,216
15kW	16,912	29,045	42,250	54,860	65,541
80kW	51,980	122,560	175,200	210,240	245,280
250kW	141,229	383,000	547,500	657,000	766,500

 

Example Calculation

 

A 15 kW turbine located in an exposed area will have an an outlay of approximately £50,000 (source: Proven Turbines: £41,000 for the turbine and my estimate of £9,000 for installation and grid connection). This machine would generate perhaps 25,000 kilowatt hours on a windy and exposed site with minimal turbulence created by trees. In the analysis below, this will end up sold back to the grid. If some of it is used in a home, replacing grid electricity, the numbers would be slightly better.

 

15 kilowatt wind turbine in a good location:

 

Annual output	25,000 kWh
FiT	26.7p per kWh
Total value of FiT	£6,675.00
Export payment	5p per kWh
Value of export payment	£1,250
Less: yearly maintenance cost (estimate)	£750
Total value of installation	£7,175.00
Return	14.35%
Payback	6.96 years

 

Maintenance

 

Turbines can have a life of up to 20 years but require service checks every few years to ensure they work efficiently. For battery storage systems, typical battery life is around 6-10 years, depending on the type, so batteries may have to be replaced at some point in the system's life.

 

 

Please feel free to get in contact with us by email or call 0845 189 9894 to discuss any of your requirements.