A guide to domestic wind turbines

The UK's wind energy is largely untapped and only 0.5 per cent of the country's energy requirements are met by harnessing wind energy.

However fitting a small wind turbine to your home can help change this. You will typically need your house to be double the length of the turbine's mast and you will need to make sure that there are no trees or buildings in the way of it.

Different local authorities have varying planning permission stipulations so you will also need to check these, although over the coming months it should become easier to make home improvements if they are green and of no obvious disturbance to neighbours.

Make sure you get your turbine in a place where it can get the full thrust of the wind. Speeds of above 4.6 metres per second will generate electricity but if you can find speeds higher than this then you will be able to generate even more electricity.

Don't forget that grants are available from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme.



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