A wind turbine in the garden
The domestic wind turbine –excuse the expresssion- has got wind in its sails ! More and more people are installing wind turbines in their gardens even though the cost of installation may outweigh the benefits.
More and more gardeners are installing wind turbines to produce clean energy. The installation consists of a 10 to 35 metre high mast which carries moters whose power varies from 100 watts to 20 kilowatts.
If the device is installed with the objective of saving money, the electricity produced is then sold to EDF (french electricity compagny), the national electricty board. In developping areas, EDF are obliged by law to buy the energy produced at the price at which they sell their energy, making it very worthwhile for the producer.
In other areas, their is no obligation to buy the energy produced, which means a profit cannot be made on it.
An ecological statement
As a domestic wind turbine is rarely profitable, the main argument for installing a device in the home is ecological.
Even when the tax credit of 50% of its value with a ceiling of 8,000 euros is taken into account, the cost of installing a wind turbine is very high (between 10,000 and 90,000 euros depending on the size of the mast, power, etc..).
Furthermore, the installation of a wind turbine is long and fairly complicated. A test mast with sensors (a wind gauge) must be installed first to find the place most suited to it. The sensors measure the force and especially the regularity of the wind over a period of several months to determine the most suitable height to position the blades.
Generallly speaking, the higher the rotor is placed, the more electricity it produces. For it to be most efficient, the chosen site should be clear of trees and buildings.
Apart from the economical and technical aspects of installation, local planning regulations must also be respected. These may forbid installation of a turbine or at least impose a mimimum distance from neighbouring houses.
In addition to this, if the height of the mast is equal or greater than 12 metres, planning permission is required.