BIG UTILITY BUYS SMALL WIND

A recent report from the UK’s Carbon Trust and Met Office found that while large-scale wind installations are capable of generating power at grid-competitive rates, there are questions about the value of small wind.

The UK government still sees big value in small wind and offers homeowner grants of up to £2,500 for the installation of distributed generation. Not-for-profit and community wind farms and public sector organisations can get up to half the installation costs. The new report says the UK could get as much as 12% of its electricity from small wind – but there is a problem.

The new report finds that small wind may be too small and inefficient to be cost competitive.

It recommends more rigorous criteria for allocating grants and subsidies to stimulate the development of more productive, lower cost turbines. Because taller turbines would capture more wind and put out more power, the report also recommends abridging the rules to include them in the funding programs.

Malcolm Wicks, Energy Minister, UK: " We are currently working to ease the planning rules for small wind turbines so more homeowners can install them with the minimum of fuss."

The report also highlights problems with siting small-wind turbines, a factor that has reduced access to winds strong enough to fulfill manufacturers' promises.

Cathy Durston, head of consulting, Met Office: "Wind speeds vary considerably and since speed is the key determinant of power, the performance of small wind turbines is very sensitive to their location. This research has shed new light on the best locations for turbines to be installed."

UK small turbine manufacturer Quiet Revolution says its highly efficient, low cost QR5 6-kilowatt turbine has solved many of the problems raised by the report. German energy giant RWE apparently believes the QR5 is the answer because it has made a £6m ($10.7 million) bet on the technology by purchasing a minority stake in the company.

And the UK government sees a value in small wind that cannot be quantified in kilowatts.

Malcolm Wicks, Energy Minister, UK: "Small-scale power generation like wind turbines can turn the concerned individual into an active citizen in the fight against climate change… "

Despite irresponsible press using the new government study to "diss" small wind, it remains a valuable component of distributed generation and appears to be improving.

The QR5. (click to enlarge)

RWE spends £6m on stake in Quiet Revolution
Ashley Seager, 2 September 2008 (UK Guardian)
and
Wind turbines in towns may be useless
Paul Eccleston, 6 August 2008 (UK Telegraph)

WHO
RWE (Fritz Vahrenholt, head, RWE subsidiary RWE Innogy), Quiet Revolution (Robert Webb, chief executive); Carbon Trust and Met Office (Cathy Durston, head of consulting)

WHAT
RWE invested £6m for a minority interest in small-wind turbine-maker Quiet Revolution. The investment is expected to fund mass production of Quiet Revolution’s QR5, its main product.

click to enlarge

WHEN
30 of Quiet Revolution’s QR5 turbine have been produced and installed. 45 have been sold and are being built or installed.

WHERE
- The 30 QR5s so far installed are in the UK.
- RWE is based in Germany.
- QR5 is based in London.

WHY
- RWE owns UK utility npower.
- Quiet Revolution’s small-wind turbine uses vertical-axis technology and is designed not for big wind installations but individual buildings or locations withing populated areas..
- Quiet Revolution’s main turbine, the QR5, has a triple-helix design, is 5-meters tall, 3 meters wide and has a 6 kilowatt capacity.
- RWE’s buy-in will fund the mass production of the QR5.

click to enlarge

QUOTES
- Fritz Vahrenholt, head, RWE: "The local supply of electric power to individual buildings from renewable energy will become increasingly significant…Small windpower units on roofs can make a major contribution to this goal - especially in places with insufficient sunshine, so that photovoltaics would not be efficient enough."
- Robert Webb, chief executive, Quiet Revolution: "We are delighted to be working with RWE Innogy to deliver efficient local wind energy…This investment will allow us to rapidly expand our production capacity to meet demand, and develop a range of new products to satisfy needs in a global marketplace."
- Dr Mark Williamson, Director, Carbon Trust Innovations: "Small-scale wind energy is attracting growing interest, and at the Carbon Trust we are receiving increasing enquiries from organisations considering installing small turbines. It's vital that people understand the wind resources available to them."
- Malcolm Wicks, Energy Minister, UK: "The Carbon Trust's report provides useful advice on the potential of micro-wind. We will use these findings as we develop our policies to dramatically increase the amount of energy the UK generates from renewable sources."