If your question is not listed below, please email Microgen@goodenergyshop.co.uk. Not only will we help to answer your question, but we may also add it to the list for future visitors to our site.

Can I sell the electricity I generate from my wind turbine?
Yes you can. Under the government Feed-in Tariff you can get paid for all the units that you generate (even if these are used onsite) and for the exported units. Click here for more information on Good Energy's Generation Schemes including everything that you need to sign up.

How do wind turbines work?
Wind turbines harness the wind's energy to create electricity. The wind turns the blades and as they rotate they are used to drive the turbine of the generator, which creates an electrical current.

Can a wind turbine supply my heating too?
Wind turbines generate electricity. Wind turbines can be used to produce an electrically powered heating system such as night storage heaters.

What sizes do wind turbines come in?
The size of a wind turbine is rated by its potential output. Turbines range from a few hundred Watts to over seven MegaWatts (MW). If you require a turbine bigger than 10 kiloWatts (kW) please let us know and our installers should still be able to accommodate you.

How do I decide which size turbine to install?
If you are looking to meet your electricity demand with your own generation then you will want to choose a turbine that can produce a similar amount of electricity to the amount you use. You may want to produce significantly more electricity than you use so that you can benefit from the sale of exported electricity. If you are uncertain of the size turbine you want, complete our survey and, working with our installers, we can recommend the turbine that we believe will meet your needs best. 

How can I make sure I get the best performance from my wind turbine?
Wind turbines will only perform well in locations with a good wind resource. High ground in westerly regions with no obstructions between the turbine and the prevailing wind are good locations for wind turbines.

Why is the average wind speed of my site so important?
The stronger the wind resource the more electricity you will generate. The power available from the wind is a function of the cube of the wind speed. Therefore a doubling of the wind speed gives eight times the power output from the turbine. All other things being equal, a turbine at a site with an average wind speed of five metres per second (m/s) will produce nearly twice as much power as a turbine at a location where the wind averages 4 m/s. We recommend that your site should have a minimum wind speed of five m/s at 10 metres above ground level to help ensure your wind project is viable. To find out the average wind speed of your chosen site click here.
The power curve below illustrates how electricity production increases with wind speed.

What is best location for a wind turbine?
Typically, a good location for a wind turbine is on high ground facing between west and south west with a gradual slope descending in front of the turbine. There should be no tall obstacles within 50m of the turbine. Obstacles such as trees and other buildings create turbulence which can affect the turbine's overall performance. Avoiding conservation areas also helps as obtaining planning permission in these areas can be a more complex process.

Why do you not sell roof mounted wind turbines?
We are currently researching the market for roof mounted wind turbines. When we are confident that we have found a suitable product that we can recommend we will add it to our microgeneration range.

What maintenance do wind turbines require and what are the typical costs of this?
Small-scale wind turbines will require some maintenance to ensure they continue to perform well and for their expected life span. Some wind turbines require an annual maintenance check up, which is why they are designed with a tilt up tower to enable this. Others require less servicing. In general it is recommended they are serviced every five years. Our installers will recommend what maintenance activities you should undertake.

In the survey you ask me to confirm the "distance (in metres) between my chosen site and my house/electricity metre" - Why?
The length of cabling required can affect the overall cost of the installation. It is useful to be aware of this from the very beginning so we can provide you with an accurate quote for the cost of your installation.