B&Q Wind Turbines (Merged Thread)

Freya1

Please please do not buy these!

B&Q quote payback figures based on turbines running at maximum capacity, speeds rarely available in residential areas. Graham1 summed up the main problem - power from the wind varies with the cube of the wind speed, i.e. half the optimal wind speed will generate 25% of the quoted power output at the very most. Any wind speeds of less than optimal (70-100% of the time based on surveys I have conducted) mean you will be generating substantially smaller amounts of energy for your homes than the manufacturers quote, and a payback time that could easily be several times the lifetime of the turbine.

My second reason for urging you not to go down this route is that home wind turbines represent a significant risk to wildlife, compared with for example the larger rural and offshore turbines. Granted there have been some mistakes in sighting wind farms in the past and I don’t claim that absolutely no impact occurs, but great care is now taken, indeed is required by law to minimise potential impact to migrating/resident birds and other wildlife. In contrast turbines designed for domestic use are typically sited near the apex of roofs. Birds and bats both tend to skim over roofs, round walls, over trees etc and roof edges are the exact optimum spot I would recommend if the aim was to slice as many birds as bats as possible. Add to this the fact that unlike large turbines, domestic sized ones will turn in even very slight breezes (giving the impression of being busy creating electricity but sadly not doing so until a threshold speed is reached). They are therefore lethal to wildlife even in relatively calm weather.

I’m an ecological consultant with green credentials as verdant as anyone I know and I would certainly encourage anyone to minimise their environmental impact wherever possible. If you are interested in changing to green electricity then consider supplies generated by wind ‘farms’, a far better option, both economically and environmentally. Solar panels have their pros and cons, but are less dangerous to the local environment than small turbines and Chinese photovoltaic cell imports should soon force a significant drop in prices, finally making photovoltaic panels a financially valid option for many. Ultimately though the most effective steps towards reducing fuel bills and carbon footprints have to be efficient home insulation and minimising nonessential fuel use. These may not get you the kudos points from the neighbours a turbine may bring, but might just give you a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

oscar_cool

Whilst I am pleased that B&Q are bringing micro-generation to the "mass market", if you are interested in a small wind turbine, or solar panels, you would be better off looking at who have much better value product and loads of technical help if you want to do it yourself.

myrtle_2

a house up the road has one of these now, it is quite windy around here and walking by from a distance it is noisy, I'm not sure I'd want my neighbours to install one.......great if you have a detached house a fair distance from another house, the one up the road has the turbine right next to their neighbours bedroom..

gromituk

I still think this is a brilliant idea. I'll believe it when I see it though - it still looks like vapourware (ha ha) at the moment. And no doubt they won't be allowed in town because they might get in the way of helicopters. :mad:

soccergoods

use one of your friends who is over 60 on a Wednesday and you get 10% discount at B&Q. This will save you £150. Use a cashback credit card what can knock another 3% off with the grant of about £400 will make it £910 wich is not to bad I think.

Thanks,
Soccergoods

caroline1973lefty

I'd just like to echo freya's comments. much better to save energy than put a baby turbine on your roof, unless you're off the national grid anyway. sadly when it comes to wind turbines bigger is much better and therefore this isn't a great option for most urban dwellers, even before you get to issues about windspeeds etc. green electricity can be bought from https://www.ecotricity.co.uk and https://www.goodenergy.co.uk, these 2 do the best in ethical consumer ratings etc.

if you want be more actively involved in renewable energy, with a possible money saving side effect too, you could investigate more suitable options at this great site https://www.theyellowhouse.org.uk. and/or you could invest in, or set up your own, community wind project, which is much more environmentally worthwhile - see https://www.energy4all.co.uk, for the best known examples.

robbiemann

I have just discovered this thread and wish I had seen it earlier although it probably wouldnt have affected my decision to fit a turbine.

The reason I am going ahead is that I have been offered an additional grant of £650 on top of the EST grant of "up to 30%" (£440 in our case). This is because we are classed as "rural" as we have no mains gas and a scheme has been set up to help us achieve enrgy savings. I have complained to my MP about he fact that I cannot take advantage of "Dual Fuel " savings offered by companies.

This means that the installation is now going to cost

1495 - (440 + 650) + 150 (planning costs)= £550

The economic start to make sense at this kind of price. I will also get a refund of money paid out recently to insulate my walls and loft. This is around the £200 mark so I think that, for me, this is a good idea.

However I believe they are changing the Rural grant to be a % figure a they had not anticipated the micro generators coming on stream so quicky and so cheaply.

A quick note to freddix: Windsave are still talking about RoCs on its website so your consultants statement is not quite accurate. you may want to take it up with him just or fun.

I will attempt to keep you all informed on the progress and issues around the installationpartcularly the Noise factor.

Best regards to all Money savers and a Happy and succesmul money saving New Year

Robbie
:beer:

justruth

With whole areas of the country without power due to the extreme gales I had to come back and re-read this thread lol, I guess this would be when you might want one!

justruth

With whole areas of the country without power due to the extreme gales I had to come back and re-read this thread lol, I guess this would be when you might want one!

gromituk

...which would have been blown down in the gales!