Directory of low carbon technologies

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Wind

Wind energy is captured by the conversion of wind into electricity using wind turbines. The mechanical energy from the wind turning the turbine blades is converted to electricity in a generator. Wind turbines generally have three blades which turn on a horizontal axis and which drive an electricity generator via a gearbox (although some turbines are direct drive machines without gearboxes). The capacity of each turbine is determined by its blade diameter and ranges from several kilowatts to several megawatts, with blades up to 50m in length.

To achieve favourable economics the turbines must be sited in areas of high average wind speed; wind farms are groups of large scale wind turbines located in exposed areas with high wind speed.

One way to ensure high wind speeds is to locate turbines out at sea. The UK is uniquely blessed with offshore wind resource and large scale deployment of wind power will play a key role in achieving the UK’s 2020 renewables targets. The scale of the challenge is immense, with 29GW of offshore power capacity needed by 2020, requiring the installation of more than 5,000 turbines as well as all the associated infrastructure. The Carbon Trust study Offshore wind power: big challenge, big opportunity outlines the challenging set of actions which government and industry need to take to deploy offshore wind at the required rate and scale, deliver the significant cost reductions possible and maximise economic benefits and job creation for the UK.

Engineering for an offshore environment is challenging and costs are higher than for onshore wind turbines. The Carbon Trust’s Offshore Wind Accelerator is focused on reducing costs for future wind developments.

Whilst megawatt-scale turbines are required for on and offshore windfarms, small scale turbines in the kilowatt range are typically installed as single devices, or as very small clusters, either free-standing or mounted on buildings.

Small turbines also require high wind speeds for favourable economics and this rules out many urban locations. The Carbon Trust commissioned research from the Met Office and Entec to determine:

The overall UK carbon prize associated with small-scale wind energy; and
How small wind turbines can best be sited to save most carbon.

Two reports describe the outcomes of this work:

Small-scale Wind Energy Policy insights and practical guidance (for a general audience)
Small-scale Wind Energy Technical Report (intended for engineers and scientists working in the field)
The wind yield estimation tool allows assessment of wind speeds at potential small wind turbine installation sites.

Partnerships for Renewables, a Carbon Trust Enterprises company, works with the public sector to develop renewable energy projects, including wind energy.