Domestic

Many rural homeowners, including landlords and their tenants have discovered that wind power is the ideal renewable energy solution – installing a small wind turbine can dramatically reduce energy bills and carbon emissions.

In the UK, the average electricity consumption is 4,800kWh per household.

In a typical installation with around 5m/s average wind speed Windcrop systems will produce approximately 7,500kWh of electricity each year. Our systems are designed to minimise the ground space required. Only a small patch of land is needed, approximately 3m by 3m, and our systems can be installed in home-owners gardens or yards with minimal impact to the landscape.

Case Study

Client: Brian Shutler
Sector: Domestic
Location: Norfolk
Installation date: 22.09.2011

With energy costs rising, the loss of income associated with retirement might be worrying for some, but for one Norfolk man the answer was blowing in the wind.

Brian Shutler decided that a Windcrop turbine was the perfect way to cut his energy costs and reduce his carbon footprint so that he and his wife could enjoy their retirement.

Brian had a long-standing interest in renewable energy, so when a friend recommended the Windcrop system it seemed an obvious decision to install one in the back garden of his bungalow.

“Our friend has two turbines in his garden and his neighbour’s got three. I’ve been interested in wind turbines for nearly six years now and it was high time for us to bite the bullet – and we’re so glad we did.”

“Windcrop had obvious attractions – like the fact it cost us nothing at all! However, what really sealed the deal for us was the look of the turbine. There is no heap of concrete at the base securing it to the ground, it’s a brilliant design and it looks great.”

Unlike conventional large-scale wind farms, Windcrop uses 15m high, five kilowatt generators which have minimal impact on the landscape and provide electricity at the point of use.

The small-scale generators are designed to reduce installation time, minimise the ground space required and make planning approval easier to obtain and the electricity generated is available to the landowner at no cost.

Brian said: “We’ve got it in the garden not too far from the house. My wife loves it, we put it behind the hedge but she wants me to cut the hedge down so she can admire it!

“As for noise – it has been no disturbance to us whatsoever. When it was first installed there was a slight humming but they came and tightened something here or there and that’s stopped – we didn’t even have to ask them to come, it’s all part of the package. When it’s really windy I think it sounds like water splashing – but that’s not a bad noise.”

The experts at Windcrop manage the entire process, including sourcing the best equipment, and continue to maintain the system throughout the 20 year contract period. The landowner only needs to provide the site.

Brian said: “It really was a simple installation process – well for me anyway. When they came they were just wonderful – you couldn’t have wished for better workers. They all knew exactly what they were doing and just got to it. They arrived at eight and were gone by three the same day. No messing about at all.”

Brian is so pleased with the service that he has already applied for another turbine. He added: “We haven’t had a bill through yet but I know it’s going down because I keep checking the metre and it looks like it’s stopped!”