Power house

Scientists from Southampton University have produced a comprehensive report that identifies the UK's best locations for households to install micro-wind turbines.

The study, funded by the Energy Saving Trust (EST), said some households could generate in excess of £2,800 worth of electricity a year. However, it also concluded that other locations would actually lose money if a small-scale turbine was installed.

The year-long study, which was conducted by the Sustainable Energy Research Group in the university’s School of Civil Engineering and the Environment, involved 57 locations, ranging from south west England to the Orkney Islands, and tested a range of turbines that fell within two categories: building-mounted (typically 1kWp) and free-standing pole-mounted (2.5-6kWp).

The results show that the performance of domestic wind small-scale turbines is highly dependent upon location and proper installation of the technology.

Dr Patrick James, who led the study, said: 'Based on the study and with current technology, it is estimated that around 450,000 UK householders would benefit from installing a domestic small-scale wind turbine with the optimal geographic areas being rural locations in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.'