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[GDMBishop]

Where can I get help deciding what wind turbine & grid connection system is best for my circumstances?

[Victor]

Hi
Where are you located (post code)?

Victor

[Ian]

Hi GDMBishop,

It really depends on the kind of help you are looking for.

There are a number of installers on the forum and, as far as I can see, they are a very ethical bunch and will not just jump in to get your business. If they have not done so, they may Personal Mail you.

However, if this does not happen,or you are just looking for more confidence, then there are a good number of people on the forum who are either technically capable and/or have personal experience. Ask the questions as precisely as you can and I am confident you will receive a top notch set of replies.

Make sure that your are clear in your own mind exactly what it is that you want to achieve. You will then have a tool by which to measure the quality or suitability of any solutions.

I hope this helps.

Regards,
Ian

[GDMBishop]

Elgin area, IV36 2RB.
Hi
Where are you located (post code)?

Victor

[GDMBishop]

Thank you.
I guess I need to figure out just exactly what I want to achieve.
But I already know that!! Independance from the National suppliers to the point of being able to sell an excess back to them!!!
Hi GDMBishop,

It really depends on the kind of help you are looking for.

There are a number of installers on the forum and, as far as I can see, they are a very ethical bunch and will not just jump in to get your business. If they have not done so, they may Personal Mail you.

However, if this does not happen,or you are just looking for more confidence, then there are a good number of people on the forum who are either technically capable and/or have personal experience. Ask the questions as precisely as you can and I am confident you will receive a top notch set of replies.

Make sure that your are clear in your own mind exactly what it is that you want to achieve. You will then have a tool by which to measure the quality or suitability of any solutions.

I hope this helps.

Regards,
Ian

[Ian]

OK - you really are not giving people a lot of data in order to help you on this one. But I guess you may not know what info is required. So here is a (probably obvious) overview - focussing only on wind power as this was the basis of your question....

If you want to be independent of the grid suppliers and sell power back to them you need the following :

1) You must be connected to the grid in order to sell it back.
2) You must make more power (on average) than you use.
3) You must have an agreement with a supplier who is prepared to buy power from you.
4) You must have a wind generator that is big enough and capable of meeting all your own electicity needs (on average) such that your neighbours are happy and you have obtained planning permission
5) You must live in a windy area such that the turbine will generate enough power at the average windspeed of your location such that all your power requirements will be met.
6) Looking at power curves for turbines, you can work out what size of turbine you require for your average windspeed - then you need to add a safety factor to ensure you meet your objective.
7) In order to sell the power to the grid, you will need an approved inverter (G83 certified).
8.) You must have a new "export" meter installed (at your expense) in order to record the power you provide to the utility.
9) You MAY be able to get a utility company to buy your ROCs (Renewable Obligation Certificates). There is no fixed price as a "market" is operated where people dip in and out as and when required; however, to qualify for the ROC, you have to have meticulous and onerous records.
10) Wind generators need good predictable wind flow and NOT turbulent flow; in order to do this you need your generator to be mounted very high - 30 - 50 feet ABOVE any surrounding buildings or trees.

I hope this helps (but I think it will raise more questions than it answers)

Regards,
Ian

[Ivan]

As an example, this is the kind of system you will need:

FD5000 5kW wind turbine £3600 (supplied WITHOUT standard inverter)
2 x WB2500 £3200
export meter incl. fitting £80
various isolation switches and wire £200
concrete £150
plus some time and effort putting the system up

Payback time, assuming average of 30% output, would be just under 5years.

Ivan
Navitron

[Victor]

Hi
G83/1 allows up to 3.68kW/phase, then G59/1 comes into force.
If you were proposing a 5kW turbine (rated at 12m/s) how would you overcome this 16A/phase issue without putting in a 3-phase supply?

Would you downrate the turbine (on paper) to give kW at average annual wind speeds or put in smaller inverters (that would I guess run at higher efficiencies) and install a large dump load to restrict over production.

Has anybody come across this issue with the DNO before?

Victor

[Ian]

A good point. I missed that !

Nevertheless, I probably would not change anything. The amount of time a 5 kW generator is able to supply 4 kW (allowing for some losses) is small.

Whilst I do not know this to be true, I doubt if the export meter is throttled in any way and I also doubt that there are data logging capabilities built in to show instantaneous current from time to time.

Also, I would assume that the household will draw power and this will have to be subtracted from the equation - although depending upon the positioning and wiring of the export meter, it may not show up on that circuit.

In short - I would not worry about the very small amount of time that the system might theoretically exceed the specification.

I hope this helps.

Regards,
Ian

[Ivan]

The mains wiring will take a lot more than 16A per phase (your household main fuse will be 100A in all probability). Not sure why this restriction exists. I read that they were or they have removed this restriction recently - anyone got any info to confirm this?

Ivan