Online wind estimator to blow away turbine confusion

The Carbon Trust will today move to address the confusion surrounding the effectiveness of small-scale wind turbines with the launch of a new online tool designed to help businesses and homeowners assess whether they have a suitable location for a wind turbine.

The new wind yield estimation tool draws on 30 years of data from the Met Office's 220 UK weather stations, as well as data on different wind turbine designs and the impact of local surroundings on wind turbine yields.

It allows users to input their postcode, details about the surrounding landscape and the type of turbine they intend to use, before providing them with an estimate of annual mean wind speed, likely energy generation and carbon savings.

The launch of the new tool follows a series of reports that have found that while small-scale wind turbines can deliver significant levels of cost effective energy when installed in the right location, their use in urban areas with low wind speeds is often ineffective.

"The new Carbon Trust wind yield estimation tool will provide significant support to thousands of UK businesses and households seeking to understand whether small wind systems will work for them," said Alex Murley, small-systems manager for the British Wind Energy Association. "If sited correctly, small wind systems can generate considerable amounts of clean, green energy helping to reduce electricity bills and carbon emissions."

The new tool was also welcomed by Pete Allen, chief executive of small wind turbine manufacturer at Iskra who said that it should boost interest in the technology.

"The new wind energy yield assessment tool will be very valuable for us and prospective customers as it provides an independent and accurate assessment of average wind strengths," he said, adding that it would also help save customers money by speeding up feasibility studies.

However, Mark Williamson, director of innovations at the Carbon Trust, advised that businesses and households interested in installing small wind turbines should only use the online tool as a starting point and should undertake actual onsite wind monitoring for at least a year before making any investment decisions.