This is how wind turbines generate electricity from wind.
- Wind blows over the turbine, forcing the blades to rotate.
- The rotating blades connect to gears that drive a generator.
- The generator turns the kinetic energy of the moving blades into electricity.
- An inverter transforms the direct current (DC) from the generator into alternating current (AC) to use in the home.
- Electricity travels into a transformer that transports the energy to your home or the grid.
The turbines spin in one of two ways:
Horizontal axis
These are the turbines you’re likely to be familiar with. Their blades look like a propeller. Horizontal turbines tend to be the default design because they’re the most efficient.
The blades of these turbines resemble a kitchen whisk and take up less space than horizontal turbines. Although they can catch the wind from any direction, they tend to be less efficient than horizontal turbines.
There are two main types of domestic turbine:
- Pole mounted – free standing turbines that work best in a large open place that’s exposed to the wind. They can generate around six kilowatts (kW) of electricity.
- Building mounted – these are smaller than mast mounted systems and can be installed on the roof of your home. These are smaller and can generate around 2kW of electricity.
What are the benefits of wind turbines?
Cut your electricity bills
Wind is free, so once you’ve paid for the initial installation and maintenance costs, your electricity costs will be reduced.
Store electricity to use later
If you have battery storage, you can store excess electricity from wind turbines and solar panels to use later.
Get paid to export extra electricity
If you’re generating more electricity than you can use or store, you may be able to use the Smart Export Guarantee. This scheme pays you to export extra electricity to the grid. This is only for people in Great Britain.
Cut your carbon dioxide emissions
Wind generated electricity is renewable energy and doesn’t release any carbon dioxide emissions. Installing a turbine will lower your carbon emissions by around 2,000kg in Great Britain (GB) and 2,000kg in Northern Ireland (NI).
How much do wind turbines cost to install?
The cost of a wind turbine system depends on:
- the size of the turbine
- how you want to mount it
Building-mounted turbines cost less to install than pole-mounted ones, but they tend to be smaller and less efficient.
For equipment and installation, a 6kW pole-mounted system costs around £35,000.
What financial support is available to install a wind turbine?
There are currently no specific schemes that can help fund a wind turbine installation. If you’re interested in installing a turbine but concerned about the cost, you could consider a community-owned wind project. Projects like these are one of the priorities for Great British Energy.
How much can I save with a wind turbine?
A well-sited 6kW turbine could save you around £440 a year in GB and £550 NI.
If you use the Smart Export Guarantee, you could also get more money in export payments. This applies to Great Britain only – for Northern Ireland, speak to your energy supplier to see if they offer an export tariff.
How do I get a wind turbine?
We recommend getting quotes from at least three different installers who are certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). Find qualified installers in your area.
Your installer can assess your property and recommend a suitably sized wind turbine.
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