B&Q Wind Turbines (Merged Thread)

lemontart

Apparently, according the bbc breakfast these will be on sale from next week, can't find any info on them though i.e. how much they will cost.

Beth
xx

davemc78

Just watched that myself, and found this on the B&Q Website:

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?fh_search=wind+turbine&zone=all

Looks good, time to start saving..!

lemontart

found this article on it

http://money.guardian.co.uk/utilities/story/0,,1806210,00.html

and an online discussion about it here

http://www.itsnoteasybeinggreen.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=42388&sid=f92032f792a801d22b3bb72d49be8d58

greytroot

Well at £1500, unable to "store" electricity and no electricity when there is no wind, I think it is a poor deal. My current readings make for £10 a month on electricity and £10 a month on gas, it doesn't take a genius to work out that I would need the system to work for 150 months to break even. These should be added to all new homes though.

griff.

Coupla thoughts:

I wonder whether you can get a grant for this from one of the Energy Savings Trust connected programmes - looks as though you can, just choose your country: http://www.est.org.uk/myhome/generating/grants/

and

I'm still a bit confused about the Planning Permission status. Windsave themselves don't seem to be offering any firm guidance: have a look at their FAQ/Planning bit on http://www.windsave.com/. No offence to the talents of BQ Staff, but it feels that they may not be able to answer the relevant points on whether you need to ask your neighbours, legally.

Anyone got an update ?

meadowcat

griff. wrote:

Coupla thoughts:

I wonder whether you can get a grant for this from one of the Energy Savings Trust connected programmes - looks as though you can, just choose your country: http://www.est.org.uk/myhome/generating/grants/

and

I'm still a bit confused about the Planning Permission status. Windsave themselves don't seem to be offering any firm guidance: have a look at their FAQ/Planning bit on http://www.windsave.com/. No offence to the talents of BQ Staff, but it feels that they may not be able to answer the relevant points on whether you need to ask your neighbours, legally?

I checked a while back with my local planning office and they confirmed planning permission is required costing, I think, somewhere in the region of £250.

Although there are grants for wind turbines, I don't think grants are paid for self installation.

Just checked the B & Q details and it does say "This is not available for self install, you will be contacted on purchase of this item in regards to installation" So it may possibly qualify for a grant.

Cardew

There is quite a bit on Windsave if you do a search on this forum.

From post#17 onwards on this thread you will find information and discussion.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=173959&highlight=turbine+output

Ken-Dodds-Hairy-Knodule

LOL, £1500 for a 1kw turbine?

Someone is making a fortune there, and I can guarantee it's b&q..

ariba10

There will be some tears over this.

You will be getting people buying these who will be lucky enough to live in a location where there will be only enough wind to turn the blades a couple of times a year, let alone generate electricity.

oldwiring

Forum host. Please move this to another section if you think it more suited

In BBC Breakfast news there was a piece about a mini wind turbine that B&Q was to sell at £1500 to consumers so they could micro-generate electrivity. It was claimed that it would produce one-third of a home’s energy needs.

All seems very commendable but out of curiosity I did some sums. I made the following assumptions.
1. The turbine could be purchased without borrowing
2. Balances throughout were held in an account bearing interest paid monthly, equivalent of approx 3.5% net of tax
3. The pattern of my electricity tariff, i.e. the number of higher rate units and the percentage differential in cost of higher and discounted units would remain the same
4. Two sets of calculations would be made, one assuming all costs as now, another costs rising at 10% a year.
I found that on an even energy cost basis breakeven would not occur until the 247th month (20years 7 months) and with costs rising at 10% yearly at the 132nd month (11 years).

I make no value judgments but I do have strong reservations about such a long pay-back period, wondering if other methods of saving energy are not still the most appropriate to the domestic consumer. In short is B&Q jumping on a bandwagon, to be pulled by mugs?

Thoughts?

griff.

Cardew wrote:

There is quite a bit on Windsave if you do a search on this forum.

From post#17 onwards on this thread you will find information and discussion.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=173959&highlight=turbine+output

This is a fast-moving issue.

With the recent introduction of the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill in Parliament I understand there will be an easier passage in planning issues for home-owners wanting to put up turbines - anyone know ?