Solar pv and other domestic micro-generation technologies

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HappyG(rrr)
HappyG(rrr)
Jan 2023
1:48pm, 14 Jan 2023
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HappyG(rrr)
It's not an either or for me fozzy, as I described above. (I realise you aren't necessarily referring to me, or to Hann).

I'd be interested in why it doesn't save the CO2 though, if you've got any links? I gave an example of generating more kWh a year from a small turbine than a (relatively big) solar install.

So I'd say over 10 years, a small turbine is saving more electricity than a large solar. The small would have less "manufacturing" CO2 than the solar (by which I mean less steel, less specialist minerals etc.)?

Just interested in any figures. :-) G
Hanneke
Hanneke
Jan 2023
2:12pm, 14 Jan 2023
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Hanneke
Yeah, me too!
HappyG(rrr)
HappyG(rrr)
Jan 2023
2:16pm, 14 Jan 2023
45,250 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
I'd say downsides of turbines are:

* maintenance (physical moving parts always more subject to wear and tear)
* noise (depends on design, but physical movement is a risk of noise)
* safety (again, physical movement, can be mitigated by sensible siting, screening etc)

Upsides are:
* works in winter and night time, unlike solar
* possibly much higher generation capability overall (depending on wind in your area, and siting esp in urban or suburban setting)

I really think UK planning needs to change to support local, micro wind generation. We've got a *lot* of wind! :-) G
Hanneke
Hanneke
Jan 2023
2:20pm, 14 Jan 2023
97,957 posts
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Hanneke
We do!

Main issue I am encountering in my research is high winds! We get a lot of them here and it means disabling or even taking down the turbine.
As high winds can arise suddenly in the night, this is not ideal...
Hanneke
Hanneke
Jan 2023
2:21pm, 14 Jan 2023
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Hanneke
I want it for winter, basically. Not enough sun to warrant a 12k solar installation and storage if I haven't another way of generating electricity.
No water on my property. So wind remains.
HappyG(rrr)
HappyG(rrr)
Jan 2023
2:23pm, 14 Jan 2023
45,251 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
I thought the turbines have "auto braking" capability for high winds Hann? Or am I being too naïve or overly optimistic? :-) G
HappyG(rrr)
HappyG(rrr)
Jan 2023
2:54pm, 14 Jan 2023
45,252 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
For instance, read about braking and max windspeed for this one

britwind.co.uk
Hanneke
Hanneke
Jan 2023
3:06pm, 14 Jan 2023
97,960 posts
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Hanneke
Happy, do you know what they cost? You are looking at 30k +!!!

I am looking on the flimsy side of things 😎
HappyG(rrr)
HappyG(rrr)
Jan 2023
3:22pm, 14 Jan 2023
45,253 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
There's a gap between the 1kW and the 5kW which unfortunately is what I want. 2-4kW. The turbine should be £5k, but the ground work, cabling, inverter etc. cost a lot too. I don't want the 5kW one at £30K though, to be clear! :-) G
HappyG(rrr)
HappyG(rrr)
Jan 2023
3:23pm, 14 Jan 2023
45,254 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
A 1kW example

futurenergy.co.uk

£3K

But that is without the install, high voltage (grid voltage) inverter etc. :-) G

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Maintained by ThorntonRunner
Every so often we talk about solar pv, batteries etc split across the environment, energy bills and electric car threads. Here's a dedicated home for such discussion :)

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