
That’s why many home-owning eco-warriors opt for solar panels instead. But it’s not the cheapest or easiest option, especially for urban homes. Wind energy is green, clean, and sustainable. You need to have the right wind speed to power them, which means you need lots of unobstructed space – which is usually only the case in rural homes (sorry, city dwellers!).

Why not go the extra mile and make your home look as futuristic as its energy? They look cool, too!: if you’re prepared to splash out, there are lots of architecturally innovative wind turbine designs out there.Plus, you may be eligible to get payments from the Smart Export Guarantee. They can save you money: by generating your own electricity, you can cut back on your energy bills.Wind turbines are low-carbon: they’re a green, renewable source of energy, and don’t release any carbon emissions, which fuel the climate crisis.Wind is plentiful in the UK: did you know that 40% of the wind energy in Europe blows over our little island 3? It’s one of our greatest natural resources.What are the benefits of powering your home with wind energy? Advantages of home wind turbines

Not sure how much power you need? Find out more about how much electricity the average home uses, and read more on this below. But if you do have the space and the money for one, the good news is that you have a better chance of powering your entire house with it than with a roof-mounted system. Unless you have this kind of land available around your home, a standalone turbine might not work for you. They work best if they’re in a big, open space where there’s nothing to slow down the wind: think in a massive field – or even better, on top of a hill. Standalone or pole-mounted wind turbinesįree-standing wind turbines are likely to be more powerful than those that fit on a roof – but only if you put them in the right place. But since they’re not as big, they tend to be less powerful, usually generating 1-2kW.
#Home wind turbine vs solar install#
They’re usually cheaper to install than standalone turbines. Putting them on the roof gives them the best height to take advantage of the wind blowing over your house. These small wind turbines sit on top of your roof, just like solar panels would. Generally, you could have 2 main types of wind turbine installed at home.
#Home wind turbine vs solar full#
Want to know more about the science behind wind energy? Read our full guide to the UK’s favourite renewable power source. Find out more about the ideal spot for a home wind turbine below. That’s why domestic wind turbines are only recommended for people who live in rural, extra-blustery areas. Obviously, when you have one in your back garden, you can’t have it built to the same scale, so you won’t capture nearly as much energy. Regular wind turbines are usually very tall, and have gigantic blades, to catch as much wind power as possible. This spinning turns a shaft inside the turbine, which powers a generator, which turns the kinetic energy of the spinning motion into electricity. When the wind blows, it pushes the blades of the turbine and makes them spin. Like bigger wind turbines, home turbines harness the energy of the breeze to turn it into electricity. The basic science is the same, but home wind turbines are more compact.įind out more about full-size wind turbines and how they work, in our complete guide How does a home wind turbine work? It’s like a miniature version of the much bigger wind turbines you’ve likely seen around the UK, in fields, or just off the coast. What is a domestic wind turbine?Ī domestic, or home wind turbine, is a device that can turn wind energy into clean electricity for your home. Still curious? Read on to find out everything you need to know about home wind turbines. This is why sleek solar panels remain the more popular choice for homeowners who want to go green. However, they’re also expensive, and need a lot of unobstructed space to generate energy (which means they won’t work in the average back garden). They can help cut down on bills, and they make guilt-free green energy. After all, we are the windiest country in Europe 2 – which won’t surprise you if you’ve ever taken a windswept walk along the British coastline!īut what if you want to cut out the middleman, and install a wind turbine of your very own at home?ĭomestic wind turbines are on the rise. In 2020, wind turbines generated more than half of our electricity 1.

There’s a strong chance that wind is already powering your home here in the UK, at least some of the time.
