Over the last few years millions of people have begun to wake up to the fact that the world’s energy sources aren’t going to last forever and a growing proportion are now starting to look for alternative methods of satisfying their domestic energy needs. One option that many people consider is installing a domestic wind turbine, either attached to their property or close by, but is this really a viable option for the general population?

The amount of energy that a wind turbine produces can be calculated using a rather complex equation which relates the average wind speed to the collection area of the turbine. In simple terms however, it is estimated that a domestic wind turbine that measures 2 metres from tip to tip would supply around 500kWh per year in a suitably windy location. Unfortunately the average household uses around 4500kWh per year and so in order to use a turbine as the only energy source it would have to measure somewhere in the region of 5 metres from tip to tip and stand over 12 metres high!

In urban areas this obviously isn’t practical however a small domestic wind turbine can often be fitted and used to supplement the energy coming from the National Grid, thus saving you money on your energy bills. It is thought that a 500kWh wind turbine can save a household around £160 per year however at a price of around £1500 it will take nearly ten years to recoup the purchase price. In addition, you have to make sure your property is suitable with regards to average wind speeds because if you don’t catch the wind then the whole thing is pointless. Most companies who fit domestic wind turbines will visit your property before agreeing to the order just to make sure you aren’t wasting your time and money on a useless piece of equipment.

Saying this, if you live at the top of a Scottish mountain or in any other extremely windy place then a good sized wind turbine could in fact save you a great deal of money over the years. Large, free standing turbines can cost anywhere between £3000 and £4500 however they have been known to generate up to 80% of the average household energy requirements and if this is the case then they are well worth the expense. In fact, if you have the space and the money then you could consider multiple turbines and disconnect yourself from the National Grid altogether. This is of course the best case scenario and there probably aren’t many people with the money, space and planning permission for several large wind turbines in their back garden.

Simply put then, if you are happy to just supplement your energy supply with an alternative method and you don’t mind having a domestic wind turbine stuck to the side of your house or stood in your back garden, then they can save you money in the long run. You need to be in a windy position however and you’ll need a decent sized one to make it worthwhile. Experts suggest that solar panels are more efficient and economical though and so it may be worth thinking about these as well.

Guest Article by Clare Lynock