The Latest News From Capture Energy

Is it worth installing a wind turbine to generate electricity?

Alistair Buchanan, the chief executive of the energy industry regulator Ofgem, yesterday warned of the impending crisis in the energy industry over the next few years.  It is predicted by Ofgem that the capacity could fall in April by 10% as older coal fired power stations close.  As a result it is understood that the UK will have to import more expensive gas in order to plug the deficit in energy production.  In an interview with the BBC, Mr Buchanan said the UK “would be very tight on power station capacity in three to five years’ time”.

As consumer’s, what is our response?  Well we can do two things:

1)      Use less energy.  For example by insulating our homes better, or switching to lower energy light bulbs.

2)     Generate our own energy.  Wind Turbine Feed in Tariffs provide an excellent opportunity for landowners, businesses and farmers to invest in wind turbines.  The UK needs to increase its own production of energy and government incentive schemes are in place to make the installation of a wind turbine a worthwhile investment.

Our Managing director, Nathan Billings, says “As conventional fossil fuel power stations are decommissioned due to obligations to meet emissions targets, renewable energy technologies must be brought on stream to meet our energy needs.  A big hurdle to the development of wind turbines is gaining planning consent.  Capture Energy specialise in providing wind turbines from 5kW to 500kW for landowners, businesses and farmers.  A 100kW turbine for example would provide enough electricity for approximately 65 homes and an income of around £75,000/year.  We have a specialist highly experienced local planning team to help gain planning approval for your wind turbine project.”

Contact Capture Energy on 01209 716 861

Capture Energy had a successful afternoon on Friday 7th December at the Cornwall Renewable Energy Awards, winning the category of Best Medium Scale Renewable Energy Scheme.

We are very proud to have been nominated for such a prestigious award. Well done to all the team!

The recent Super storm Sandy that devastated parts of the US east coast reminded me of a question Capture Energy often get asked, that is, ‘do wind turbines survive high winds?’  To attempt to put things in context, Superstorm Sandy had reported windspeeds in the region of 65mph.

There have been 150mph winds in the Shetlands, Scotland in recent years, with Kingspan KW6 turbines not just surviving, but continuing to generate!  Not all turbines can survive this kind of extreme wind climate.  Whilst most parts of the UK do not experience such extreme winds, it is important to look at a wind turbines suitability for the local wind climate. 

Without getting too technical, one of the little discussed topics by wind turbine installers in the 5-500kW range is wind turbine classification.  There are various elements to the IEC 61400 turbine classification but the one I want to discuss is the “Wind Speed Parameters for Wind Turbine Classes”.  It sounds like a boring, difficult topic – but it’s actually essential to understand if you are considering installing a wind turbine.  Hopefully my little introduction to the subject of wind turbine classification won’t be too boring or difficult to get your head around. 

There are four basic wind turbine classes, 1, 2, 3 & 4.  The four ‘classes’ relate to the wind conditions a turbine has been tested (or designed) to survive and cover the following three areas which all relate to the wind climate at the turbine hub height:

• Annual Average Wind Speed
• 50 year return gust
• 1 year return gust

The table below shows the values for the above three parameters for the four wind turbine classes, and the classification of our turbines

The key element in the classification is the ‘annual average wind speed’.  Whilst the windier it is, the more a turbine will generate is true, not all turbines on offer are suitable for all UK wind climates.  The most common turbine classification in the small-medium wind industry is class 3.  A class 3 turbine is designed to survive an annual average wind speed of 7.5m/s at hub height.  If the annual average wind speed at hub height is over 7.5m/s, then a class 2 or class 1 turbine is required.

The Northern Power 100 allows for a good example of how to choose the right turbine based upon site wind speed classification.  It is available as a class 2 or a class 3 turbine, the difference being the rotor diameter.  In lower windspeed sites, below 7.5m/s average, larger 24m blades are used to increase energy generation in class 3 site conditions.  For higher wind speed sites, for example 8m/s at hub height, smaller, 21m diameter blades are used to allow the wind turbine to reliably survive the windier climate.

Following on from the ‘annual average wind speed’ are peak 50 year and 1 year gusts.  A class 1 designed turbine like the KW6 can be installed in very remote windy locations (such as Alaska or the Shetland Islands) because it can withstand annual gusts of 115mph and 50 year gusts of 154mph.  Whilst the right turbine can survive extreme conditions, the most problems happen with incorrect choice of turbine between classes 2 and 3 sites.  We have seen many quite obvious class 2 windspeed sites, with class 3 turbines installed.  This may provide excellent yields in early years, but more repairs and maintenance will be required over the 20 year life time.  It is sometimes difficult to precisely define the classification of a site because wind speeds vary year on year and average wind speeds provided by desktop models will never be completely accurate.

Just to confuse matters a little, turbines will have a turbine classification based upon a test report; however they may be designed to withstand higher classifications of windspeed.  For example, the Kingspan KW6 is a class 2 certified wind turbine, however it is designed for class 1 wind sites.  The simple reason is that it has never been formally accredited with class 1 certification; however this should take place in the near future.  Some manufacturers of class 3 turbines do occasionally grant concessions to allow their turbines to be installed in class 2 environments if the site has low turbulence.  If any turbine is to be installed outside of its formal wind classification environment then approval will need to be sought from the manufacturer to confirm the warranty is not invalid. 

In most sites in the UK a class 3 turbines will be suitable, however in parts of Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and other very windy sites, a class 2 turbine is likely to be required.  Capture Energy offer a range of turbines to suit all wind climates.

Capture Energy will be attending this year’s South West Renewable Energy Exchange Business Development Day, which takes place on 25^th October at the Sandy Park Conference Centre, Exeter.

Capture Energy will be providing round table discussions on the following topics : The keys to maximising the financial returns from your wind energy project and Wind Turbine Land Rental

If you would like to join in on our discussions follow this link to register your interest  http://195.40.181.80/rexbuyers/registerbuyerrex.aspx

Alternatively come along on the day and meet with the team!

Wind Turbine installers Capture Energy have today received planning permission to install two 55kW Endurance Wind Turbines near Truro, Cornwall.

Together these two turbines will produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of 78 UK homes and saving 156 tonnes of CO2 annually.

Capture Energy Wind Turbine Installer