Ridgeblade domestic roof wind turbine

celerity

This product is getting some press at the moment: http://www.ridgeblade.com/

I wish I could get excited about it, but it's not available yet, and even the manufacturers are not prepared to share any data.

How about an MSE sweepstake to estimate the typical power output?
If it's more than 60W I'd be (pleasantly) surprised.

I would also expect it to make audible noise for anyone trying to sleep near it!

/\dam

ColinFishwick

Surely if its on a ridge of a house its only going to get wind blowing in one direction, so it will be very limited

Dean_G

Well, I guess that it's time to stop lurking.. I work for the Power Collective, and I've been a long time user of this site, even if I have never posted before - in the company's first couple of years, we didn't draw any wages, so MSE was essential to me! Right now we are doing everything that we can to get the RidgeBlade to market as soon as possible. Our problem is that we require the design to be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) before it is eligible for the feed in tariff. Unfortunately, the unit cannot be tested against the current standards due to it's design, and we are working with MCS to develop a standard against which we can be tested. This will obviously take some time, and because of this, the units will probably not be on sale in the UK for 18-24 months.

As far as output figures are concerned, all I can say at the moment is that you will be pleasantly surprised, and we are aiming for a payback period of less than 5 years (with feed in tariff). Regarding noise and vibration, there is no noise discernible above ambient wind noise, and no vibration - the unit photographed on the website is on a colleagues house, and he has even been up into the loft during a storm, but couldn't hear anything (other than the storm). We also had an environmental health visit during the planning permission process, and the officer noted no noise above background.

The design accepts wind from 70% of wind directions, so there will be some buildings which will not be suitable for a RidgeBlade, but many more will be suitable.

I hope that this helps, and as more information becomes available from testing, we'll put it up on the website.


Dean

celerity

OK, I'm more intrigued now - many thanks for taking the time to stop lurking .
When do you think you can release some output figures? Until you do that, people who are genuinely interested (like myself) can't really take it seriously. We've seen products like The "Secret Energy Turbine" (as featured on Dragon's Den) which don't stack up under any sort of scrutiny.

As someone who is extremely noise-intolerant, it sounds promising that your tests show little noise and no vibration. I'd still be worried that as the unit got older, mechanical imperfections and extra friction would develop which could produce a rattle. Is there any chance you could put a video up on your site showing the unit running at a decent speed?

I do wish your product every success - I've always wanted a wind turbine, and have been very disappointed that small-scale domestics models have shown, thus far, to not be viable.

/\dam

penrhyn

Your site has no indication what so ever regarding the possible power output of this device.

What does it generate? AC, DC, at at what voltage?
Does it need an inverter?

The site says its designed to start generating with a windspeed of 4mph, OK what do you get out of it at this windspeed, presumably you have been in the windtunnel and done some testing?

Cardew

Dean_G wrote: »

the units will probably not be on sale in the UK for 18-24 months.

As far as output figures are concerned, all I can say at the moment is that you will be pleasantly surprised, and we are aiming for a payback period of less than 5 years (with feed in tariff).

Dean

Will there be Feed in Tariffs for new installations in 2 years time?

The Government have made it quite clear that there is to be a limit on the funds we (the consumers) pay for FIT. With the number of 'Rent a Roof' companies getting in on the act, with thousands of PV systems, will there be any money left?

Incidentally is it intended that the 'Rent a Roof' companies will be able to use your technology?

GordonGowk

Rigeblade looks potentially interesting - thankyou for the info.

I saw a website showing an interesting roof mounted vertical axis turbine. It's a very small unit - (120W??) and looks like a whirly chimney top - designed that several would be mounted on a roof and wired together. It's currently only available abroad too and I've spent weeks tryng to find the site again.

Has anyone else seen these? If so, can you post the link please so I can book mark it? Cheers.

mickyduck

Dean_G wrote: »

Well, I guess that it's time to stop lurking.. I work for the Power Collective, and I've been a long time user of this site, even if I have never posted before - in the company's first couple of years, we didn't draw any wages, so MSE was essential to me! Right now we are doing everything that we can to get the RidgeBlade to market as soon as possible. Our problem is that we require the design to be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) before it is eligible for the feed in tariff. Unfortunately, the unit cannot be tested against the current standards due to it's design, and we are working with MCS to develop a standard against which we can be tested. This will obviously take some time, and because of this, the units will probably not be on sale in the UK for 18-24 months.

As far as output figures are concerned, all I can say at the moment is that you will be pleasantly surprised, and we are aiming for a payback period of less than 5 years (with feed in tariff). Regarding noise and vibration, there is no noise discernible above ambient wind noise, and no vibration - the unit photographed on the website is on a colleagues house, and he has even been up into the loft during a storm, but couldn't hear anything (other than the storm). We also had an environmental health visit during the planning permission process, and the officer noted no noise above background.

The design accepts wind from 70% of wind directions, so there will be some buildings which will not be suitable for a RidgeBlade, but many more will be suitable.

I hope that this helps, and as more information becomes available from testing, we'll put it up on the website.


Dean

Hi very interesting post keep us updated