micro wind turbines for domestic application

Micro-‐Wind Turbines for Domestic Application

Student: Paul McEvoy (C10356573) Course: DT005/3 Building Services Engineering

Date: 7th-‐‑December-‐‑2012

Micro-Wind Turbines for Domestic Application

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Abstract

The generation of electricity from renewable sources of energy will be a key part in the development of future strategies for many countries. This topic is very important for Ireland mainly because of its lack of fossil fuel resources. The possibility of producing vast amounts of electricity exist here in Ireland due to its geographic position. Large scale wind electricity generation reached 1264 MW of installed capacity by January 2010. However small scaled wind generation has not been hugely popular to date. The unclear economics of micro-wind turbines under Irish conditions is considered the biggest obstacle for expanding micro-wind turbine installation. This study will inform the reader that micro-wind turbines are a viable option here in Ireland once the appropriate conditions are met.


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Table of Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... 1

List of Figures ............................................................................................................................ 4

Dissertation Declaration ............................................................................................................. 5

Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... 6

Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 7

Background ............................................................................................................................ 7

Motivation .............................................................................................................................. 7

Personal .............................................................................................................................. 7

Energy Policy ..................................................................................................................... 8

Market ................................................................................................................................. 9

Information ......................................................................................................................... 9

Objectives ............................................................................................................................... 9

Thesis Layout ....................................................................................................................... 10

Ireland’s Energy Requirements ................................................................................................ 11

Current Status ....................................................................................................................... 11

Ireland’s Future Targets ....................................................................................................... 13

Drivers for Deployment of Renewable Energy Technologies in Ireland ............................. 14

Wind energy in Ireland ............................................................................................................ 15

Geographical Positioning ..................................................................................................... 15

Wind Speeds in Ireland ........................................................................................................ 16

The Operation of a micro-wind turbine ................................................................................... 22

Micro-Generation ................................................................................................................. 22

History .................................................................................................................................. 22

How does it work? ................................................................................................................ 23

Site Selection ........................................................................................................................ 25

Wind speed ....................................................................................................................... 25

Wind Obstacles ................................................................................................................. 25

Topography ....................................................................................................................... 25

Planning Permission ......................................................................................................... 25

Technology .............................................................................................................................. 26

Smart Meters ........................................................................................................................ 26


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An introduction to Smart Meters ...................................................................................... 26

How do Smart Meters work? ............................................................................................ 26

The current Smart Meter situation in Ireland ................................................................... 27

Grid Connection ................................................................................................................... 28

Basic Grid Connection ...................................................................................................... 28

Advanced Grid Connection .............................................................................................. 28

Off-Grid Connection ......................................................................................................... 29

Hybrid Sources of Input ................................................................................................... 29

Installation and Operation ................................................................................................ 29

Current Standards and Regulations for Connecting a Micro-Generator in Ireland .......... 30

The current micro-wind turbine situation in Ireland ................................................................ 31

The current micro-wind turbine market ............................................................................... 31

Micro-wind turbines available on the Irish Market .............................................................. 32

The current legislation and regulations for installing a micro-wind turbine in Ireland ....... 35

The Current financial support for exporting electricity generated from micro-wind turbines .............................................................................................................................................. 36

Case Studies ............................................................................................................................. 37

Case Study 1: Householder’s Micro-Wind Turbine Project ................................................ 37

Case Study 2: Householder’s Micro-Wind Turbine Project ................................................ 42

Conclusions .............................................................................................................................. 50

Conclusions .......................................................................................................................... 50

Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 50

References ................................................................................................................................ 51


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List of Figures Figure 1: Total final consumption by fuel 1990-2010 (SEAI 2011) ....................................... 12

Figure 2: European wind Atlas, Onshore (Wind-Energy 2012) .............................................. 15

Figure 4: Micro-Wind Turbine Components (Government 2012) .......................................... 23

Figure 5: Electrical output of a Turbine. (EAI 2012) .............................................................. 24

Figure 6: How a Micro-Wind Turbine work in a home. (trust 2012) ...................................... 24

Figure 7: Breakdown of grid connected micro renewable electrical generation devices installed from January 2007 to February 2010 in Ireland. (Li et al. 2012) ...................... 31

Figure 8: Market share by installation. (SEAI 2010) ............................................................... 32

Figure 9: Kingspan KW6. (Beco, 2012) .................................................................................. 33

Figure 10: KW6 showing power production against wind velocities (m/s) ............................ 33

Figure 11: C&F Green Energy CF6e. (C&F-GreenEnergy, 2012) .......................................... 34

Figure 12: CF6e showing power production (kW) against wind velocities (m/s) ................... 34

Figure 13: 6kW Proven (caredelyn.co.uk) ............................................................................... 38

Figure 14: 2.5kW Proven ......................................................................................................... 43

Figure 15: Concrete base to support 11 metre high mast. ........................................................ 44


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Dissertation Declaration

I hereby declare that this dissertation is my own work and effort and it has not been previously submitted to any other third level institution. Sources of information that have been used in this dissertation have been acknowledged.

Signature: …………………………

Date: ………………………………


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Acknowledgements

This dissertation would not have been possible without the guidance and the help of several individuals who in one way or another contributed and extended their valuable assistance in the preparation and completion of this study.

First of all the author would like to thank his family and friends for their kind support during the writing of this dissertation. The author would also like to show his appreciation to Ciara Ahern for her help each week providing knowledgeable information which went a long way towards the completion of this dissertation. Finally the author would like to thank Mr Patsy Smith, a micro-wind turbine owner from Gowna, Co. Cavan who allowed the author to use his micro-wind turbine as part of his case study, and Mr Michael Reilly of M&C Hybrid Energy Ltd, an MCS certified installer, who installed Mr Smith’s micro-wind turbine and kindly answered any queries the author had.


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Introduction

Background The use of renewable energy has become increasingly popular in recent years. The factors responsible for this are that countries now need to become less reliant on non-renewable fossil fuels such as oil and coal and make more use of renewable sources such as solar and wind. Another factor influencing the interest in renewable energy is the international agreement to make efforts in order to reduce the amount of green-house gases in the earth’s atmosphere. As a result of this interest in renewable energy, governments in many countries are promoting energy generation in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions which evolve from fossil fuels. The utilisation of renewable sources of energy is even more important for Ireland due to its lack of fossil fuel resources. Peat is the only indigenous fossil fuel available in Ireland.

The use of wind power is recognised as one of the fastest growing industries in the area of renewable energy. Annual installations of wind power have increased over the last seventeen years from 814 MW in 1995 to 9,616 MW in 2011, an annual average growth of 15.6%. It is expected that more than 100,000 MW of wind power will be installed in Europe alone by the year 2030. Ireland has amazing resources for the use of renewable energy and in particular, wind energy. The wind energy resource in Ireland is four times that of the European average.(Li, Boyle and Reynolds 2012) This unlimited amount of wind gives Ireland the opportunity to generate electricity by means of wind energy.

The site of wind turbines located on mountains and stretching into the sea in recent years has become quite common. But now we are beginning to see smaller scale wind turbines attached or integrated in some way onto buildings. These are called micro-wind turbines. This is an area of renewable energy which has great potential for innovation, expansion and integration. Whether this potential is realised depends on the costs of manufacture, installation and maintenance in both retrofit and new buildings.

Motivation

Personal The decision to do a study on this topic was due to its relevance to the fast changing world in which we live in today. Due to growing concerns about the future availability of fossil fuels and the effects this will have on electricity prices, it is important that we gear more towards alternative ways of producing electricity such as ‘Micro-Wind Turbines’.


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Energy Policy Competitiveness of energy supply

Ireland can be seen as a fully sustainable, secure, efficient, affordable and competitive all island energy market. Having a reliable and competitively priced energy supply in Ireland, in the future will have a major effect on the country’s competitiveness and economic growth. Structural change within the energy market is also required in order to enable competition and deliver consumer choice. (Government white paper 2006) The creation of the Single Electricity Market in 2007 has created a more competitive market. It has kept electricity prices competitive, ensured security of supply, and provided environmental benefits.(Regulation 2011) The introduction to the electricity market mechanism has been a big motivator to use micro-generation technology.

Environmental sustainability

Between the years 1990 and 2007, the total annual energy requirement grew in absolute terms by 69.8%, in which 56% of this was taken up by oil. (Government and Irish 2012) In Ireland by 2020 the planned level of deployment of renewable energy will help to ensure that Ireland’s energy supply will be more diverse, secure and sustainable. The 2020 vision of renewable energy consultation under taken with Northern Ireland proposes the integration of renewable energy with in an all-island energy market.(Government white paper 2006)

The motives behind using Micro-Wind Turbines include the following:

1. The need to reduce energy related green-house gas emissions. 2. Government incentives for developing alternative means of energy sources. 3. Reducing the demand by strengthening energy efficiency and conservation measures.

Ensuring security of supply

While competitiveness of energy supply and environmental sustainability are both key, ensuring the security of supply is imperative. One of the main objectives of the Irish energy policy is to ensure that affordable energy is constantly available with no risk of the supply being disrupted. Although measures have been put in place to ensure security of supply such as mandatory oil storage, there is still a lack of significant natural resources which creates a major challenge for the future.(Unions 2007) However, with the use of Micro-Wind Turbines, a natural resource is created. A larger amount of Micro-Wind Turbines would contribute to the delivery of electricity to homes and businesses over networks that are adequate and secure while creating an attractive environment to encourage investments in energy infrastructure. (Purcell 2008)


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Market It is clear that there is a gap in the electricity market for renewable energies. An obvious interest in Micro-Wind Turbines would become apparent if suppliers could manufacture the device at an affordable price for consumers and ensure them that the device is capable of generating electricity. In recent years, people have become aware of how their actions are affecting our climate. They are beginning to make the effort to help with climate change. By installing a Micro-Wind Turbine in their own domestic home or commercial business, this gives them the chance to help with climate change while saving money on their electricity bill at the same time.

Information There are many people out there who are unsure and unaware in some cases of Micro generation technologies and in this case Micro-Wind Turbines. Since the public are the target market for this relatively new technology, I feel that it is important that they understand the use of this device and what it is capable of producing. In many cases when a new technology is unleashed, it can be misunderstood, therefore becoming unpopular as a result of poor public opinion. If Micro-Wind Turbines do not impress the public with their positive effects then micro wind technology will be a flash in the plan and could end up being perceived as a great chance wasted in the future.(Purcell 2008)

Objectives Through-out this dissertation, information will be giving about micro-wind turbines that may interest people into considering or maybe even installing this latest piece of technology as a secondary source of electricity supply on their own existing buildings, whether they are domestic or commercial. In order to do this, the merits of a micro-wind turbine installation will be displayed in a clear and organised manner. This dissertation will uncover the capabilities of a micro-wind turbine by carrying out the following tasks to the best of my ability:

1. Give a clear in depth description of a micro-wind turbine. 2. Carry out a case study on an existing turbine in operation in conjunction with a

commercial building in Ireland. 3. Carry out a case study on an existing turbine in operation in conjunction with a

domestic building in Ireland. 4. Calculate the total cost of installing this piece of technology and work out the

simple pay-back period.


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Thesis Layout This dissertation will be laid out in the most organised way possible in order to enhance the reader and also make it easier to locate specific pieces of information. A dissertation declaration will be the first chapter followed by acknowledgements. Chapter two gives an introduction which comprises of the background, Motivation (Personal, Energy policy, Markets, Information), and the objectives of this thesis. The following chapter is on Ireland’s energy requirements with a detailed account on its current status, future targets and drivers for renewable energy technologies. Chapter three is about wind energy in Ireland with calculated average wind speeds through-out Ireland over the past three years. The next chapter gives details on micro-generation with a description on the basic operation of a micro-wind turbine while in chapter five the present technology available for this application will be explained in terms of metering and grid connections. Chapter six gives details on the current micro-wind turbine situation in Ireland including, the current market, turbines available on the current Irish market, Irish regulations and legislations for installing micro-wind turbines, and financial support giving for exporting electricity that is produced from a micro-wind turbine. In chapter seven a case study on a householder’s micro-wind turbine project in the UK will be carried and in the same chapter a case study on a householder’s micro-wind turbine project here in Ireland will be also carried out. The conclusion of this study will follow this chapter and it will include any interesting findings and present any recommendations as a result of these findings. The appendix will be the final chapter to my dissertation and it will comprise references which I found useful during the writhing of this dissertation.


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Ireland’s Energy Requirements

Current Status Ireland’s energy is primarily consumed by electricity generation, transportation and heat generation. In order for Ireland to meet these energy requirements, we have become heavily dependent on fossil fuel imports. Irelands import dependence reached 86% in 2010, down from the peak 91% in 2006. (SEAI 2011) Peat is Ireland’s only indigenous fuel source; all other fossil fuel sources are imported. (Rourke, Boyle and Reynolds 2009) Ireland’s energy consumption has rapidly increased since the early 1990’s, however it is gradually reducing as you can see from the 5% drop from 2006 to 2010.

Energy consumption in Ireland reached 12.046 mtoe in 2010, with fossil fuels accounting for 95% of the total energy consumed. (SEAI 2011) The largest energy consumption sector within Ireland is the transport sector with a share of 38.8% of the final energy consumption. This is followed by thermal uses (i.e. space heating, cooking etc) with residential and industrial sectors having shares of 27.1% and 17.3% respectively, and finally services and agricultural sectors are the remaining two energy consumption sectors with shares of 14.4% and 2.27%. The consumption of energy in the transport sector has decreased from 41.5% in 2006 to 38.8% in 2010. (SEAI 2011) This decrease may be due to the recent hike in fuel prices.

Electricity generation totalled 4925 ktoe, accounting for 33% of the primary energy consumption in Ireland in 2010. Natural gas was the dominant fuel responsible for 61% of the total primary input to electricity generation followed by coal, accounting for 18% of the fuel mix. In 2010, renweables accounted for 7.5% of the energy inputs to generate electricity with wind energy contributing to 5%. Wind generation fell by 4.6% in 2010. The services sector was the largest sector to use electricity, using 36% of the total in 2010. This was followed by the residential (34%), industry (27%) and the agricultural sector with (2.2%). There was an increase of 3.2% to energy inputs to electricity generation, while at the same time the final consumption of electricity increased by 0.8%, resulting in an overall decrease in efficiency. (SEAI 2011) This statistic tells us that we need to make more use of renewable sources out there in order to reduce the high demand for fuel sources needed to generate electricity.


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Figure 1: Total final consumption by fuel 1990-‐2010 (SEAI 2011)

The chart above illustrates the final consumption of each fuel over the period 1990 – 2010. In 2010 natural gas experienced an increase in consumption with a growth of 9.1% in comparison to 7.1% in 2006. This growth in the use of natural gas is a result of the increased amount of space heating requirements in buildings as a result of two very cold spells at the beginning and end of the year. Gas is now being used to generate electricity, replacing all other fuel types that done so in the past. Also its increased use in the industrial and residential sectors may be relevant reasons as to why the use of natural gas has grown. In 2010, the final consumption of oil fell by 3.3% and its share of the final energy consumption fell to 61%, down from 62% in 2009. The final energy consumption share of cool was 11.6% in 1990. This dropped dramatically to 2.9% in 2010 displaying an evident decrease in the use of cool. Peat consumption has decreased from 10.4% in 1990 to 2.1% in 2010.The use of renewable energy technologies increased by 11% in 2010. (SEAI 2011) The majority of the growth in the use of renewable energy technologies in Ireland was achieved in the residential sector, and with the use of wind energy to generate electricity.


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Ireland’s Future Targets The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources published an Irish government energy white paper on the 12th of March 2007 entitled Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland. The white paper highlights the goals that will deliver a sustainable energy future for Ireland. The paper is driven primarily by the challenge of a secure energy supply and the prevention of climate change. (Rourke et al. 2009) The Irish governments energy action plans for 2020 are set out in the energy white paper.

The white paper includes:

• Actions being put in place in order to ensure security of energy supply. • Actions to promote the sustainability of energy supply and use. • Actions to enhance the competitiveness of energy supply.

(Government white paper 2006)

The energy market in Ireland can be separated into the following three divisions:

1. Electricity generation 2. Thermal energy 3. Transportation

The following targets were set with regard to renewable energy:

• 15% of Ireland’s electricity consumption will be generated from renewable sources by 2010, and 33% generated from renewable sources by 2020.

• 500 MW of ocean energy capacity and 800 MW of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) with an emphasis on biomass will be installed by 2020.

• 30% biomass co-fired at the state owned peat power plants by 2015. (Government white paper 2006)

In terms of environmental targets, the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 was published by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the 2nd of October 2007 setting out measures by which Ireland will meet its Kyoto Protocol 2008 – 2012 commitment, and also setting out measures for the post Kyoto period. The report estimates an annual emissions reduction of 1.47 million tonnes of CO2 will be achieved with the target of 15% renewable electricity by 2010, and an annual emissions reduction of 3.26 million tonnes with 33% renewable electricity by 2020. (Rourke et al. 2009)


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Drivers for Deployment of Renewable Energy Technologies in Ireland There are a number of different drivers and motivators for the deployment of renewable energy technologies in Ireland. Some of these motivators include:

• Security of energy supply

This can be spilt into three separate sub-motivators. The first of these sub-motivators is the fact that fossil fuels pose a threat to energy supply. The second deals with rising political issues between fossil fuel producing countries as a result of fossil fuel resource distribution. Finally the third sub-motivator deals with economic disadvantage, including the risks associated with disruption of supply and the disadvantage on the balance of payment which is dependent on fuel price. (Rourke et al. 2009) The use of renewable energy technologies such as micro-wind turbines increases the security of energy supply because they generally utilise indigenous resources. Energy from renewable technologies will contribute towards a sustainable energy future.

• High fossil fuel prices

This is a major driver for the competitiveness and utilisation of renewable energy technologies. Since 2006 the price of fossil fuels, and in particular oil prices, have increased significantly. The continual price rises may provide an essential motivator for investments in renewable energy technologies. (Rourke et al. 2009)

• Environmental concerns

The use of renewable energy technologies as a replacement for fossil fuel energy systems offers a lower lifecycle impact in reducing gas emissions. (Rourke et al. 2009) Micro-wind turbines will help towards lowering gas emissions in Ireland. However, the visual impact of micro-wind turbines may pose a negative effect on the environment.

• Technology development and business perspective

An important driver for governments and industries to invest in renewable energy technologies is the continuous development in technology and business perspectives. For countries who want to maintain competitiveness in the global market and who want to increase employment they must put actions in place to increase R&D. (Rourke et al. 2009)

• Agriculture, rural and social issues

It is possible to use wind in rural areas were population is low because wind energy technology does not always require a grid connection.


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Wind energy in Ireland

Geographical Positioning As a result of its geographical positioning, Ireland is ideally situated to be a major producer of wind energy. Ireland has some of the best wind conditions in the world for generating electricity, particularly along the north and west coasts. Currently, the number of grid connected and operational installed wind capacity on the island of Ireland is 2054.86 Megawatts (MW), which will on average generate 5,580,178 (MWh) in a given year given a 31% load. (Irish 2012)

Wind is intermittent and unpredictable in nature, challenging the integration of wind turbines into the electricity system. The wind energy resource in Ireland is four times that of the European average. (SEAI 2012c) The electricity output of a wind turbine is dependent on wind speed, and is proportional to the wind speed cubed. (Twidell and Weir 2006) So, basically the siting of the micro-wind turbine is important as electrical output is dependent on location.

Figure 2: European wind Atlas, Onshore (Wind-‐Energy 2012)


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Colour On Map Open Plain (m/s) At sea (m/s) Open sea (m/s) Hills and ridges (m/s) >7.5 >8.5 >9.0 >11.5 6.5-7.5 7.0-8.5 8.0-9.0 10.0-11.5 5.5-6.5 6.0-7.0 7.0-8.0 8.5-11.5 4.5-5.5 5.0-6.0 5.5-7.0 7.0-8.5 >4.5 >5.0 <5.5 >7.0

Table 1: Wind resource at 50 metres above ground level for five diferent topographic conditions

From the table above, the purple and red areas on the European Wind Atlas indicate the highest wind speeds in Europe. Ireland has either an excellent or very good wind condition as you can see from the map with wind speeds in open plain areas reaching greater than 7.5m/s in certain places along the west coast. This is due to its geographical location on the downside of the Atlantic Ocean. The country is subjected to a prevailing south-westerly wind current resulting from the Gulf Stream with windy depressions developing over the Atlantic Ocean and crossing over Ireland. These weather systems in combination with our long coastlines mean that Ireland is well suited to produce electricity from wind energy. (Cooke 2004)

Wind Speeds in Ireland The author has tabulated the following tables, which indicate the monthly wind speeds of fourteen different weather stations throughout Ireland. Taking this information from the Met Éireann Monthly Weather Bulletin, the author was able to calculate the mean average monthly wind speed, the average yearly wind speeds and the average wind speeds over the three years.


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Table 2: 2009 records of monthly windspeeds through-‐out Ireland from 14 different weather stations

County / Station Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Co. Carlow Carlow Oak Park

8.2 5.8 8.6 7.3 8.2 5.9 7.4 8.9 6.2 6.5 10.3 6.8

Co. Cavan Ballyhaise

7.3 6.2 7.9 6.7 7.4 5.3 6.1 7.2 5.9 6.1 8.1 6.0

Co. Clare Shannon Airport

9.3 6.3 10.2 9.0 10.6 8.0 9.8 10.2 7.6 8.7 11.8 8.2

Co. Cork Roche’s Point

13.3 8.8 12.4 10.9 13.3 9.7 12.4 12.8 9.8 11.1 17.2 13.0

Co. Cork Cork Airport

9.9 7.6 10.1 9.0 10.6 8.3 9.3 9.5 7.7 8.5 13.1 10.6

Co. Donegal Malin Head

16.5 14.4 16.0 12.1 14.8 10.7 10.8 12.3 12.8 12.1 15.5 13.0

Co. Dublin Dublin Airport

11.9 10.3 12.6 9.6 12.1 8.9 9.9 11.1 10.1 10.2 14.3 11.3

Co. Dublin Casement Aerodrome

12.0 8.8 11.3 8.6 11.3 7.4 9.0 11.2 9.0 8.4 13.6 9.7

Co. Kerry Valentia Observatory

11.2 6.3 10.2 8.8 10.0 7.2 8.9 9.3 6.5 7.7 13.8 9.6

Co. Mayo Bellmullet

14.6 10.0 13.0 11.0 12.4 9.1 11.3 13.8 11.2 10.3 13.7 10.8

Co. Mayo Knock Airport

10.8 8.3 11.4 9.4 11.0 8.1 8.9 10.4 8.8 8.8 10.9 8.6

Co. Tipperary Gurteen

8.1 5.7 7.8 7.1 7.7 5.8 6.9 7.5 5.5 7.7 10.5 7.6

Co. Westmeath Mullingar

7.1 4.6 6.5 6.2 7.0 5.0 5.8 6.6 5.0 5.6 7.6 5.6

Co. Wexford Johnstown Castle

8.1 5.6 6.7 6.8 8.2 5.9 7.2 7.8 5.9 6.4 9.7 7.6


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County / Station Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Co. Carlow Carlow Oak Park

5.8 5 6.7 6.6 6.1 5.8 7.5 6.7 7.2 6.7 7.1 4.5


5.6 4.3 6.1 5.5 5.4 5.2 6.6 5.5 6.2 6.2 6.5 3.3


7.0 6.5 7.9 7.8 7.6 7.7 9.1 8.1 9.0 7.9 9.1 5.1


10.5 10.1 11.2 10.2 9.4 9.6 10.9 10.4 10.8 11.8 13.0 10.6


9.1 8.8 9.5 8.4 7.9 8.3 9.1 8.9 9.0 9.3 10.5 8.9


12.8 11.4 13.5 10.7 9.7 8.1 14.3 12.7 15.2 15.5 18.2 13.1


11.0 8.4 9.3 8.4 8.2 7.8 10.6 9.1 9.6 10.2 11.3 8.4


8.5 6.5 8.0 7.6 6.2 6.4 10.0 8.5 8.9 10.0 9.6 6.2


7.2 6 7.8 7.2 7.1 7.2 8.1 7.4 8.8 8.4 10.1 6.3

Co. Mayo Bellmullet

10.8 7.3 9.4 10.5 9.3 8.7 12.1 9.8 11.3 11.8 10.9 7.0


8.5 6.8 8.8 8.1 8.2 8.1 9.5 8.5 9.2 8.9 9.0 6.7


7.0 5.8 7.6 7.2 6.5 6.4 8.2 7.1 8.3 7.4 8.1 4.8


5.3 4.1 5.5 5.5 4.9 4.8 5.8 5.1 5.9 5.9 6.1 3.6


7.0 5.9 6.6 6.3 5.9 5.8 7.0 5.9 6.3 7.1 7.4 6.2



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County / Station Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Co. Carlow Carlow Oak Park

5.5 8.4 5.3 5.9 10.3 6.5 5.7 6.1 9.9 9.2 8.9 9.7


5.5 7.3 5.2 6.0 9.4 5.6 4.8 4.8 8.4 7.9 8.2 9.7


6.0 9.1 6.4 7.4 13.1 8.9 7.6 7.4 12.2 10.4 10.7 11.7


9.9 13.5 8.6 9.9 15.3 11.6 10.2 10.0 13.8 12.8 15.4 14.4


8.7 11.2 7.3 8.3 12.4 9.5 8.2 7.7 11.1 10.0 11.9 11.4


13.9 18.8 9.6 12.6 19.4 11.2 10.6 11.2 17.5 17.3 17.7 22.3


9.8 11.6 8.4 8.9 14.9 9.5 8.6 8.9 12.9 12.8 11.8 16.3


8.8 11.1 7.4 8.5 13.5 8.6 6.4 7.6 12.6 12.7 11.5 15.6


6.8 10.1 6.2 7.0 13.0 9.3 7.6 7.2 12.5 10.0 11.9 14.6

Co. Mayo Bellmullet

9.2 11.7 10.4 10.6 16.1 10.7 8.8 8.8 15.2 13.9 13.8 17.0


7.7 10.0 7.3 8.8 13.8 8.6 7.5 7.5 12.3 11.3 11.8 13.1


6.3 9.6 6.3 7.5 12.1 7.4 6.4 6.3 11.0 9.9 10.7 10.9


4.7 6.8 4.6 5.8 8.8 5.3 4.7 4.6 7.8 7.6 7.9 8.1


6.6 8.5 5.9 6.4 8.8 6.7 5.6 5.7 8.3 9.9 ____ 11.4


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The monthly average wind speeds of the fourteen weather stations were calculated using the following formula:

!ℎ! !"# !" !"#$ !"##$! (!/!) !"# !"#$%&'("# !"#$ℎ!ℎ! !"#$%& !" !"#$ℎ!" !"#"$%&!

The average wind speed of the year in question was calculated using the following formula:

!ℎ! !"# !" !ℎ! !"#$ℎ!" !"#$!%# !"#$ !"##$! ! !!ℎ! !"#$%& !" !"#$ℎ! !" ! !"#$

The average wind speed over the three year period was calculated using the following formula:

!ℎ! !"# !" !ℎ! !"!"#$! !"#$%! !"#$ !"##$! (! !)!ℎ! !"#$%& !" !"#$%

The results are displayed in the table below:

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Yearly Av. Av. 3 yrs. 2009 10.5 7.7 10.3 10.2 10.3 7.5 8.8 9.9 8.0 8.4 12.9 9.5 9.5 9.4m/s

2010 8.2 6.9 8.4 7.8 7.3 7.1 9.2 8.1 8.9 9.0 9.7 6.7 8.1

2011 7.8 10.5 7.0 8.0 12.9 10.5 7.3 7.4 11.8 11.1 11.7 11.1 10.68

Table 5: Calculated monthly,yearly and 3 year average wind speeds (m/s)

This table indicates that the necessary conditions exist in rural areas for micro-wind turbines which require a start-up of as little as 2.5m/s of a wind speed(GreenTech 2012), to produce electricity. Every proposed site would, however, have different wind speeds. Wind speeds are directly affected by the degree of exposure, the smoothness / roughness of the terrain and the presence of obstacles. Weather stations give a rough guide to the wind conditions in particular localities. (Cooke 2004)


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Figure 3: Wind speeds (m/s) in Ireland 50 meters above ground level. (SEAI 2012)


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The Operation of a micro-‐wind turbine

Micro-Generation Micro wind turbines evolved from the Micro-Generation. This is a generation of heat or electricity derived from renewable or low carbon sources on a small scale. Micro-Generation can be described as a generation of zero or low-carbon heat and power by small businesses, individuals and communities in order to meet their own needs.(Irish 2012) Micro-Generation focuses on three distinct areas, Solar photovoltaic, hydroelectricity power and wind.

Solar Photovoltaic

Solar Photovoltaic is one of the micro-generation technologies which generate electricity from panels absorbing the heat from the sun. An array of solar panels is sited in the direction of the sun. When the heat of the sun hits the panels, dc current is generated. This is simply converted into ac current and then fed back into the buildings electricity current. Solar P.V systems are usually connected to the national grid and any surplus electricity created is exported to the grid whereby the owner receives a payment based on the amount of electricity exported. (Solar 2012)

Hydroelectricity

This is the micro-generation technology which captures potential energy contained in flowing water and converts it into electricity. There is no carbon emitted in the production. In order to use this system, a sufficient water flow is required – the faster and wider the better. Also there must be sufficient head; this is the vertical drop between the water level and the intake point were the water passes through the turbine. (Partners 2012)

Wind

In relation to wind, micro-wind turbines are small scaled wind turbines designed in such a way to capture and convert an inherently variable raw material (wind) which is unlimited, free and 100% green into electricity. (Partners 2012) The blades on a turbine rotate when the wind blows and this turns a drive shaft that generates dc current which is then converted into ac current so that it can be used within the building. The location of this of a micro-wind turbine will have a major effect on its performance. It performs best near the coast, on high ground, or on flat open spaces. (Irish 2012)

History The natural forces of wind have been used for centauries as a free source of energy. It has been used for years by windmills to power machinery for carrying out physical work such as pumping water and crushing grain. (trust 2012)In the world we live in today, wind technology has advanced and it is now used to generate electricity by converting the rotation of turbine blades into electricity.


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How does it work? One of the best ways to understand the operation of a wind turbine is to imagine that it works in the opposite way to a fan. Instead of using electricity to generate moving air, turbines use the wind to generate electricity. (BWEA 2006)

The operation of a micro wind turbine is very straightforward. The turbine consists of the following parts:

• Propeller / blades • Rotor • Generator / Alternator • Gearbox • Nacelle • Tower

Figure 4: Micro-‐Wind Turbine Components (Government 2012)


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Figure 5: Electrical output of a Turbine. (EAI 2012)

The propeller or the large blades are used to catch the wind. When the wind blows, the blades are forced around, driving the turbine around resulting electricity being generated. The speed of the wind will depend on the amount of electricity produced – the stronger the wind, the more electricity. (trust 2012) Most micro-wind turbines will generate direct current (DC). Since this is the case in most situations, a DC-AC convertor is used. After the electricity is produced by the turbine, it is sent into the DC-AC convertor so that it can be used in the home. Some systems in rural areas where it may not be possible to get connected to the national grid use batteries to store the electricity produced. In most situations the system will be connected to the national grid and any surplus electricity produced is metered and exported to the national grid. In this case, the owner will receive a payment from their electricity company. The amount received will depend on the amount of electricity exported.(trust 2012)

Figure 6: How a Micro-‐Wind Turbine work in a home. (trust 2012)


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Site Selection The selection of the site in which the turbine will run will have a major effect on its overall performance. To assess the feasibility of installing a micro-wind turbine on a site, several factors have to be considered:

• Wind speed • Wind obstacles • Topography • Planning permission

Wind speed Sustained wind speeds are essential to a projects economic viability. Micro-wind turbine require a minimum average wind speed above 6m/s. The minimal difference in wind speed causes a large difference in the amount of energy that can be generated. Wind speeds of around 7.2m/s can produce 1.5 times the amount of electrical energy when compared with wind speeds of 5.8m/s using the same turbine. (WindScout 2012)

Wind Obstacles The turbines wind resource can be reduced if the wind becomes turbulent or blocked entirely when obstacles such as trees, hedges and buildings are situated near the turbine. This is true for back gardens or in urban areas where buildings can block or disturb wind flow.

Topography The height incline and orientation of the site and its surroundings can have a large impact on both the wind resource available but also the magnitude of the effect that a turbine has on its environment. Sites which reside on the peak of hills often have a greater wind resource but also have a greater impact on its environment which can cause planning to be more challenging. Sites were the turbine is placed on the side of hills is often more beneficial as it has the advantage of strong winds and it is only visible from half as many places as it is blocked by the hillside. However; this means that the wind from that direction will be reduced so prevailing wind direction is important. (WindScout 2012)

Planning Permission Small scaled wind turbine projects are quite often exempt from having to obtain planning permission once the owner follows the regulations set out in the Planning and Development Regulations. (Environment 2007)


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Technology

Smart Meters

An introduction to Smart Meters It is expected that smart meters are going to change the way we use electricity because instead of using the standard kWh measurement, they use a time based tariff which means the consumer will now pay a higher price for electricity during the day time and less for it in off peak periods. (Purcell 2008) Smart meters are the next generation of electricity meters offering us with the potential for remote operation, remote meter reading, real time pricing, new tariff options and demand side management (DSM) and an interface with home area networks. (ESB 2012c) They provide us with additional features compared to those that exist on the traditional electromechanical electricity meters that are familiar to most people. (SEAI 2012b)

The principal characteristics of smart meters are:

• They have the ability to distingush between the import and export of electricity while keeping a record of this data at the same time.

• They are able to display and record real time information. • With a smart meter, there is no longer a need for a meter reader to come and take

readings from your meter box or a need for the consumer to submit a meter reading. This is because there is now communication between a central control location and each smart meter which allows readings to be transmitted.

• Smart meters give the owner the opportunity to switch the electricity supply to the premises on or off. (SEAI 2012b)

How do Smart Meters work? A smart meter works based on wireless transmitting data as energy is being consumed. Smart meters use the information recorded as a way of keeping the consumer informed and updated on their actual energy usage. They give you control over when you choose to either increase or decrease your energy usage. The digital reader within the smart meter makes billing a lot easier to track. (TheGreenAge 2012)

The purpose of smart meters is an attempt at lowering the levels of energy consumption, which in turn will reduce the carbon emissions from buildings. These meters are ‘smart’ in that they enable the consumer to act sophisticated when they consume energy. This is possible because the meter displays readings during both peak and off-peak periods. Since electricity is cheaper during off-peak times, the consumer can decide when to run certain appliances in order to cut there bill, for example, run washing machine during off-peak times. (TheGreenAge 2012)


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The current Smart Meter situation in Ireland A trial run on smart meters began in January 2010 with ESB networks installing 10,000 meters. This trial basis was hoped to educate stakeholders in smart meters and how they can help the consumer best manage their electricity. (ESB 2012c) The national ‘Smart’ programme got under way on the 17th of November 2011 when Electrical Supply Board of Ireland (ESB) and the European investment bank agreed on a €235 million loan to fund the ‘Smart’ investment in Ireland’s electricity networks. The programme includes a number of key projects to enhance transmission and distribution links from wind farms, to improve the efficiency and capability of the electric networks to facilitate greater integration of renewable energy sources and also the technical design phase of a national smart metering programme. (ESB 2012b)

The CER (Commission for Energy Regulation) announced their energy smart metering decision on the 4th of July of this year (2012). (CER 2012a) This decision proves a vital step towards lowering customer bills and also towards Ireland lowering its CO2 emissions in an attempt to combat climate change.

It is due to the major success of phase one (Pilot trials and cost benefit analyses) that led to the CER’s decision in proceeding to the next phase of the project. Phase two of the national program involves the rollout of electricity and gas smart meters to all homes and businesses with the idea that they will provide significant benefits to energy customers and to the entire country in general. Trials that were carried out in 6200 homes and businesses showed us that an average saving of 2.5%. Therefore it is hoped that a national rollout of smart meters would give us a 2.5% reduction in the overall electricity consumption. This does not seem like a great amount but it is a saving and a stepping stone in the right direction. A national rollout of smart meters will lead to a drop in customer bills, provide customers with more information about their electricity usage and also lower Irelands CO2 emissions which will help the environment in the long run. (CER 2012a)

The rollout of smart meters will involve major investments by network companies over the next few years. The pilot trials that were successfully carried out in phase one showed us that after carefully analysing the cost and the benefits involved, using very considerate estimates, smart meters will provide a net benefit to customers and to the country within the region of €220 million over twenty years. (CER 2012a)

Ireland is among the first to roll out smart meters, however unlike other countries with a similar system, homes and businesses here will be fitted with a display unit which allows people to see their actual energy consumption in real time. The installation of these smart meters is expected to begin in 2005 and 2.2million homes and 600,000 businesses will be upgraded within four years. (Independent.ie 2012)


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Grid Connection

The installation of a renewable energy system is generally quite simple regardless to whether it is being incorporated in a new building or being retrofitted into an existing building. A renewable energy system being retrofitted into an existing building is quite straight forward because the building concerned is usually wired for electricity and the electricity is all the same. In a situation where the renewable energy system is required to operate normally during a power cut or during network upgrades, then it is necessary to avoid direct grid connection as well as the selection of either a PGT or Off-grid system. A PGT system has the advantage of exporting at the generators preferred time so that it will benefit from the highest value tariffs during the day. When using a micro-wind turbine as part of a renewable system the use of a PGT grid connected system where excess grid connected power is stored and off-grid systems where all power is stored are recommended ahead of the basic grid connection. Almost all domestic micro-wind turbines do not require maintenance compared to the larger scale wind turbines which are subject to commercial type installations due to their significant installation requirements and blade size. They also have the added problem of noise ratings to be considered. (Wineur 2005)

Basic Grid Connection This connection requires the operation of the grid; therefore it does not work during a power cut, or during upgrades etc. If the consumer is generating energy from their micro-wind turbine, this energy automatically goes into a utility connected inverter and then directly into the wiring of their property. The result of doing this is that the consumer uses the energy produced by the turbine first and then then the incoming electricity from the grid second. The financial feasibility of micro-wind turbines used in a basic grid connection is currently poor due to a significant amount of spillage onto the grid during the night when virtually no electricity is being used. Therefore this means that micro-wind turbines that are basically grid connected will have an unviable payback period. The smart metering applies a higher daytime tariff and a lower night-time tariff which also does not make the payback period much shorter or viable. In the current market conditions, basic grid connected micro-wind turbines do not make economic sense.

Advanced Grid Connection Unlike the basic grid connection, this system does not require the operation of the grid as it contains a private grid generator. Basically, it has all the functionality of a grid connected system with all the functionality of an off-grid system. It is fully automatic and stores excess amounts of electricity. This system has inverters that can be rated and expanded up to hundreds of megawatts. The financial feasibility of micro-wind turbines used in conjunction with this system are more favourable since the system is able store electricity. Smart metering will apply at a higher tariff during the daytime and a possible zero night-time tariffs which means the energy generated at night can be stored until day-time and then exported at the higher daytime tariff making the payback period shorter and more achievable. Wind systems


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that are directly connected to a storage system get the full benefit of energy produced. The best advanced grid systems are solar photovoltaic or solar/wind hybrid systems.

Off-Grid Connection This system does not need the grid to operate but it does however require a base support coming from either the grid or a standalone generator if there is not grid available (i.e. in rural areas). This arrangement creates an independent system that can be expanded over time. It is fully automatic and can store excess amounts of electricity. Since the system has a storage unit, the financial feasibility of a micro-wind turbines used in conjunction with this type of system is relatively good. It is possible to double or even treble the amount of energy generated by simply installing more than one micro-wind turbine. While this would increase the power outage, the system would still remain relatively maintenance free. These system are directly connected to a storage system for full benefit of energy produced and the best being solar photovoltaic or solar/wind hybrid systems. (Purcell 2008)

Hybrid Sources of Input A hybrid system contains more than one type of input technology, i.e. solar and wind. When developing a hybrid specification for which sources of input to use, consideration of the output profile versus the usage profile is needed, i.e. if energy is used every day in a similar fashion, then maybe one might begin with solar P.V panels, and then if the site was suitable for wind, then turbines may be added. (SouthWestWindPower 2011)

Installation and Operation The installation of a basic grid connected system can be as simple as erecting a micro-wind turbine on the ground and running two cables from the turbine to a wall mounted utility inverter and then simply plugging it in and it’s online automatically. Installing an advanced grid connected system is quite similar except a PGT inverter is installed instead of a utility inerter and a grid manager needs to be cabled and mounted and then as before it just needs to be plugged in. Larger systems will need to be connected into the electrical supply buzz bar of the building. (Purcell 2008) This is a quick job but the work must be carried out by a qualified electrician to ETCI standards. (ESB 2012a)

The operation of a basic and advanced and the off grid connected systems are fully automatic when they are installed. The basic grid connected system has the effect of slowing down the electricity meter and if production is the same as the amount of electricity being used the meter will stop. While the advanced grid connected system gives the benefits of both on and off-grid capability including exporting capability, storage and independence in grid failures. (Purcell 2008)


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Current Standards and Regulations for Connecting a Micro-Generator in Ireland According to ESB networks, all direct grid connections must comply with the European standards EN 50438 which was published in 2007 and enacted into law in 2008. (ESB 2012a) This standard restricts the amount of plate rating of renewable equipment, which can be grid connected. The maximum plate rating on a single phase is 5.75 Kw and up to 11 Kw plate rating on triple phase, however ESB networks currently accept applications for generators up to 6 Kw on a single phase. (SEAI 2012a) A licence and network notification to the ESB is required when connecting to the grid. PGT grid connected systems are however designed to be exempt from the standard and hence no limit on the amount applies, neither is there any requirement for regulator licence or DSO network approvals. Full export control for smart metering is configurable with a PGT system but excess energy is stored or exported by choice unlike basic grid connections where unused energy is spilt onto the grid.

Technical standards apply to all utility connected systems including many EN standards and local network interface settings. Under EN 50438, advanced grid connections are not restricted in size on single phase or on triple phase. (CER 2012b) All off-grid systems must comply with CE standards, a European product standard covering all member states. (SEAI 2012a) These systems are fully independent as they are not connected to the gird. Off-grid inverters have a maximum rating depending on the system, this upper value cannot be breached, i.e. 2000 watt inverter means that it will disconnect when the load goes over 2000 watts, for example, all of a houses lights, TV, PC and supplementary items would equate to approximately 400-500 watts continuous power. All basic grid connections require licensing and a network approval, this is usually taking care of by the micro-wind turbine installers. However, all advanced grid connections are exempt from licensing and network approvals unless the export option is required. (Purcell 2008)


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The current micro-wind turbine situation in Ireland

The best way to describe the micro-wind turbine situation in Ireland today is under the following four headings:

1. The current micro-wind turbine market 2. Micro wind turbines available 3. The current legislation and regulations regarding the installation of micro-wind

turbines 4. Financial support for exporting electricity generated by micro-wind turbines

The current micro-wind turbine market To date, the micro renewable electricity generation has not been very popular here in Ireland. However, the most popular device of the micro generation for generating electricity is the micro-wind turbine. (Li et al. 2012)In the diagram below (fig 1), you can see that 579 micro-wind turbines have been registered with the ESB and been connected to ESB Networks (grid) from January 2007 to February 2010. (Li et al. 2012) This electricity accounted for 84% of all grid-connected micro renewable electricity generation devices in this period. In fig 2, you can see that 357 micro wind turbines were installed and grid connected by the end of 2010. (SEAI 2010) It is expected that the total number of installed micro-wind turbines is much higher, as a small number of micro-wind turbines are either connected with batteries or are waiting to get connected to ESB networks. Although there are vast amounts of wind resources available here in Ireland, micro-wind turbines have not yet become an attractive renewable energy technology in electricity generation. There are a few major factors that may affect householders’ decision on purchasing a micro wind turbine, including the cost of the turbine, the government grant available, the loan rate from a bank or a credit union, or the imported / exported electricity price.(Li et al. 2012)

Figure 7: Breakdown of grid connected micro renewable electrical generation devices installed from January 2007 to February 2010 in Ireland. (Li et al. 2012)

Grid-‐connected devices from January 2007 -‐ Febuary 2010

Wind energy (84%)

Combined Heat and Power (2%)

Solar energy (14%)


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Figure 8: Market share by installation. (SEAI 2010)

December 2010 kW Installed Capacity

Market Share by Capacity

No. of installations

Market share by installation

Micro CHP Micro Hydro Solar PV Micro Wind Total

3.00 20.8 120.78 1818.15 1962.73

.2% 1.1% 6.2% 92.6% 100%

3 4 55 357 419

.7% 1% 13.1% 85.2% 100%

Table 6: Total installed capacity of Micro-‐Generators. (SEAI 2010)

Micro-wind turbines available on the Irish Market The Micro-generation Certificate Scheme (MCS) is an industry led and internationally recognised quality assurance scheme supported by the department of energy and climate change. The Micro-generation Certificate Scheme itself is an EN 45011 scheme and it was launched in 2008. The scheme certifies a number of installation companies to ensure that all micro-generation products (i.e. micro-wind turbines, Solar PV’s etc.) are installed and commissioned to the highest of standards. (MCS 2012)

The micro-generation certificate scheme certifies micro generation products and installers for Ireland and the UK in accordance with consistent standards. The scheme provides a list of registered micro-wind turbines that are currently available on the Irish market. (Li et al. 2012)The turbines listed in the scheme are reliable, robust and can be purchased with ease from suppliers in the UK and Ireland, e.g. The KW6 by Kingspan Wind, and the CF6e by C&F Green energy. Both turbines are shown in Fig 3 below.

The wide range of wind turbines should be sufficient to satisfy householder’s needs under individual circumstances, i.e. location, wind speed and the household electrical load required.(Li et al. 2012)

Market Share by InstallaXon by of 2010

Micro-‐Wind (85.20%)

Solar PV (13.10%)

Micro-‐Hydro (1%)

Micro-‐CHP (0.7%)


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Figure 9: Kingspan KW6. (Beco, 2012)

Figure 10: KW6 showing power production against wind velocities (m/s)

This turbine is one of the most popular small scale wind turbines. The KW6 wind turbine stands out from all other small scale wind turbines due to its unique blade and hinge design which allows it to regulate its rotational speed, maximising output – as the wind gets stronger the blades pitch and cone, protecting the turbine and allowing continual operation during the fiercest of storms. (Beco 2012)

The KW6 is targeted at a large range of domestic dwellings and agricultural sites making it extremely versatile and suited to a wide range of energy clients. At present, Renewable energy systems Ireland (MCS Certified) has installed a KW6 in every county in Ireland.(RES 2012)

(Kwh)

Wind speed (m/s)


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Figure 11: C&F Green Energy CF6e. (C&F-‐GreenEnergy, 2012)

Figure 12: CF6e showing power production (kW) against wind velocities (m/s)

The CF6e is recognised as the most efficient small wind turbine in the world today. Compared to the KW6, the blades are much bigger giving an overall rotor diameter of 8m with the KW6 at 5.5m. Bigger blades have been proven to give more power but demand a more sophisticated control mechanism. C&F have developed megawatt turbines control technology which allows power to be produced during the lowest of wind speeds as well as during the highest of wind speeds. (C&F-GreenEnergy 2012)

Power (kW)

Wind Velocity (m/s)


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The turbine includes a yaw actuator. A wind direction van and cup anemometer is monitored by the turbine microprocessor, which activates the yaw motor to align the turbine into the wind. This feature is usually only employed on larger scale wind turbines but C&F have cleverly incorporated it into the CF6e optimising the performance and energy yield. (C&F-GreenEnergy 2012)

The Irish times released an article in December 2011 stating that C&F had announced an almost 40% rise in their sales from 2009 to 2010 showing us that all C&F turbines including the CF6e are becoming increasingly popular. (IrishTimes.com 2011)

The current legislation and regulations for installing a micro-wind turbine in Ireland The installation of a domestic wind turbine in Ireland is usually subject to planning permission. However, if the turbine is installed under certain conditions, it may be exempt from planning permission. In 2007, the Irish government released a report called Planning and Development Regulations, clearly stating the conditions in which a micro-wind turbine may be exempt from planning permission. The report states that:

1. The turbine shall not be erected on or attached to the house or any building or other structure within its curtilage.

2. The total height of the turbine shall not exceed 13 metres. 3. The rotor diameter shall not exceed 6 metres. 4. The minimum clearance between the lower tip of the rotor and ground level shall not

be less than 3 metres. 5. The supporting tower shall be a distance of not less than the total structure height

(including the blade of the turbine at the highest point of its arc) plus one metre from any part boundary.

6. Noise levels must not exceed 43db (A) during normal operation, or in excess of 5db (A) above the background noise, whichever is greater, as measured from the nearest neighbouring inhabited dwelling.

7. No more than one turbine shall be erected within the curtilage of a house. 8. No such structure shall be constructed, erected or placed forward of the front wall of a

house. 9. All turbine components shall have a matt, non-reflective finish and the blade shall be

made of material that does not deflect telecommunication signals. 10. No sign, advertisement or object, not required for the functioning or safety of the

turbine shall be attached to or exhibited on the wind turbine. (Environment 2007)


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In a situation where the installation of a micro-wind turbine for domestic use does not satisfy the above conditions, it must undergo the planning process. Although it has to undergo the planning process, permission may still be given, especially if the turbine does not meet the height requirement only. A roof-top-mounted wind turbine does not qualify for exemption from planning permission; it must be considered on a case by case basis.

In order to protect the grid, the maximum rated output from a grid-connected micro wind turbine is subjected to a limit. When the connection is single phase, the maximum output is 6kW or if the connection is three phase, the maximum output is 11kW. (ElectricIreland 2012) Any micro-wind turbines that fail to comply with these limitations will not be allowed to connect to ESB Networks as it may cause grid disruption.

The Current financial support for exporting electricity generated from micro-wind turbines At the moment, ESB Networks are paying €0.09 to the householder for every kWh of electricity exported to ESB Networks from a micro electricity device in Ireland. This price is a standard payment tariff and there is no restriction on the amount of electricity sold. The ESB offer incentives as an attempt to try and encourage householders to utilise micro renewable generation technologies. A supplementary €0.10 is added on for every kWh of exported electricity; however it is capped at 3000 kWh per annum and applies for a maximum of five years from the start of the contract. This contract is signed with ESB Customer Supply and allows householders to generate electricity for their own use and export any excess through an import/export meter to ESB networks. (Electric Ireland)


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Case Studies

Case Study 1: Householder’s Micro-Wind Turbine Project

Location – Credition, Devon, England, United Kingdom

Mr John Lightfoot first considered micro-generation in an effort to become more sustainable and also to save on electricity. He researched many different renewable energy sources and this led him deeper into actually considering investing in a renewable energy device. He travelled to an exhibition on renewable energy and after talking to several renewable energy companies; he decided that a micro-wind turbine would be best suited for his property as it is located on a hill with no obstructions, which is an ideal location for a wind turbine as it will obtain higher wind speeds.

(LowCarbonBuildingProgramme 2006)

John found the installers at the exhibition very helpful. Not long after the exhibition, one of the micro-wind turbine installers he met with at the exhibition came to his home and carried out a site analysis to see if his home was suitable for a micro-wind turbine. After the installer completed the site analysis, John was told that his site was suitable.

Average wind speeds of Credition, Devon = 4.6 m/s (RenSMART 2012)

John then applied for planning permission to his local council and also contacted a number of Micro-generation Certified Scheme (MCS) installers to obtain quotes. The council came to do a site visit and with help from his accredited installer, he managed to obtain planning permission very easily. (LowCarbonBuildingProgramme 2006)

After been approved planning permission, John began to investigate renewable energy grant schemes that he may be entitled to. (LowCarbonBuildingProgramme 2006) He found out about the Low Carbon Buildings Programme grant scheme who provided funding for the installation of renewable energy applications (i.e. wind turbines, solar P.V’s etc.). The initial value of the grant was unknown as the value of the grant was dependent on:

1. The sector the application was in (i.e. householder, organisation etc.). 2. The chosen technology (i.e. wind, solar, hydro etc.). 3. If the installation was for a ‘new build’ or a retro-fit building.

(Gardiner et al. 2006-2011)

Therefore since every case was different, the amount of financial support that John would receive was unknown during the initial stage of the project. However the Low Carbon Building Programme grant on average represented roughly 10 to 28% of the equipment and


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installation costs. (Gardiner et al. 2006-2011)

Before John could finally apply for the grant, he had to complete one of the requirements set out by the Low Carbon Building Programme. (LowCarbonBuildingProgramme 2006)He had to upgrade the insulation in his home as the Low Carbon Building Programme required a minimum level of insulation installed in the property. (Gardiner et al. 2006-2011) He found it relatively cheap to install the energy efficiency measures required to receive the grant. These measures also helped to improve heat retention and reduce energy consumption. He then applied for the grant online filling in the necessary details on the application form. (LowCarbonBuildingProgramme 2006)

Once he had received confirmation of his grant approval John began marking out the selected site for his micro-wind turbine. He carried out some of the groundwork himself along with the help of some local builders. This was not difficult and only took about two working days with minimal disruption. When the site was ready, his Micro-generation Certified Scheme installers (Natural Generation) came to fit the turbine. (LowCarbonBuildingProgramme 2006)

The selected turbine was a 6kW Proven.

Figure 13: 6kW Proven (caredelyn.co.uk)


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The Proven 6kW wind turbine is the result of 25 years research and development and it is renowned for its quality and durability. It is capable of supplying enough electricity to run an average sized home. (MandCHybridEnergy 2012)

The author has calculated the rotor COP (Coefficient of Performance) of Johns Proven 6Kw micro-wind turbine.

Description : Rotor diameter 5.5m (BetterGeneration 2012) Density of air 1.2 Average wind speed of Credition, Devon 4.6m/s (RenSMART 2012) Efficiency of conversion of rotational energy to electrical energy.

27% (BetterGeneration 2012)

Rotor COP:

Power of wind

= !! ! ! ! !!! !

= !! ! 1.2 ! 4.6! ! (!(!.!

!)!

)

= 58.4 ! 74.63

= 4358.5 !"##

= 4.3 !"

Mechanical energy at the rotor

= !ℎ!"# = !.!!.!"

= 15.92 !"

Therefore, the rotor COP

= !.!!".!"

= 37.6%

The turbine was successfully fitted in one day and it was very straightforward. The installers gave him all the information he needed including maintenance instructions and were they were very friendly. Overall, the only unexpected cost of project was the connection fee that John had to pay to get the turbine connected to the national grid. However, thankfully the


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connection fee was only small. (LowCarbonBuildingProgramme 2006)

As a result of the installed micro-wind turbine, John now produces more than twice as much electricity as he uses and he is selling the excess back to the grid. In Ireland when you produce excess electricity from your micro-wind turbine you simply sell it back to the ESB; however in the UK the process is quite different. John had to find a supplier that would buy his electricity. He was advised to shop around and so he did. He found that his installer was very helpful in suggesting possible companies to sell his electricity to. He now reads his meter every month and sends the information to the company every three months and receives a cheque in the post for his exported electricity. (LowCarbonBuildingProgramme 2006)

Costs and Savings:

Description : Average domestic electricity bill in the UK in 2011 £453 (Change 2011) Cost of electricity per kWh £0.13p (Change 2011) Annual yield from turbine 10000kWh

(LowCarbonBuildingProgramme 2006) Total costs of project (incl. Parts, installation, connection, etc.)

£18,763.10p (LowCarbonBuildingProgramme 2006)

Low Carbon Building Programme Grant (13.3% of overall cost)

£2500 (LowCarbonBuildingProgramme 2006)

Maintenance charge £100 per/year Payback Period:

Estimated electricity usage per year

= £"#$£".!"!

= 3484.6 !"ℎ

Excess electricity being produced by the turbine

= 10000 !"ℎ − 3484.6 !"ℎ = 6515.4 !"ℎ

Amount of money received for exported electricity

= 6515.4 !"ℎ ! £0.13! = £847 !"#/!"

Annual savings

= £453+ £847 = £13000 !"#/!"

Therefore, the payback period for John’s micro-wind turbine is:

= !"#$%"& !"#$%&'$"&!""#$% !"#$%&!!!"#$%&$"$'&


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= £18,763.10! − £2500 = £16,263.10!

= £"#,!"#.!"!£"#$$!£"##

= 13.5 years

John says the best benefit he has found from the turbine is a great ‘feel good factor’ that he is producing his own electricity, saving carbon and also saving some money at the same time. He thinks that the overall project was a success and money well spent and says ‘knowing what I know now I would have gone ahead with the installation even without the grant. He has had interest from some of his friends and thinks that he may have convinced them to get a micro-wind turbine too! (LowCarbonBuildingProgramme 2006)


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Case Study 2: Householder’s Micro-Wind Turbine Project

Location – Gowna, Co. Cavan, Ireland

When Patsy completed the build of his family home in February 2008, he saw the opportunity to make an investment that would hopefully pay off in the long run. “My initial motivation when building my house was to incorporate a renewable energy device in order to reduce the households running cost,” says Patsy.

He began researching different types of renewable energy technologies and it was while doing this he became aware of micro-generation. He weighed out the pros and cons of each micro-generation technology and taught about which one would be best suited for his home. He attended the National Ploughing Championships in September 2008 and got talking to a number of different renewable energy installers. After giving details about his home, (i.e. site location) they were able to advise him on a type of renewable energy technology that would be best suited for his home. He found the installers very helpful and taking their advice on board he decided to go with a micro-wind turbine for his property which is located on a hill.

Patsy began contacting micro-wind turbine installers to obtain quotes. After getting quotes of roughly the same price, he decided to go with M&C Hybrid Energy Ltd, a Cavan based company whom he met with during his visit to the National Ploughing Championships. The installers came to access the site and agreed that it was suitable for a micro-wind turbine; however “they never carried out a site analysis to check and see what area of my property contains the highest wind speed,” says Patsy.

Patsy was exempt from having to apply for planning permission for his wind turbine because his project fell within the regulations set out by the department for the environment, heritage and local government (Planning and Development Regulations 2007). (Environment 2007) He looked into additional funding (i.e. grant aid) that he might be entitled to before the installation of the turbine began but unfortunately there was no grant aid available at the time and this situation still remains today. (SEAI 2012a)

Before the installation of the turbine could commence, a number of steps had to be completed first. Patsy had to familiarise himself with the process involved in connecting a micro-generator to the national grid. The installer read over the conditions governing the ‘Connection and Operation of Micro-generation’ (Safety 2009) with Patsy and informed him on areas that they need to pay particular attention to. The turbines connection to the grid had to comply with the standards set out in EN 50438. Once he was familiar with the process, he had to inform ESB networks that he had intentions of connecting a micro-generator to the electricity network. He was able to do this through filling out what is called an NC6 form. After being approved by the ESB, in order to receive a payment for his exported electricity


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Patsy had to order an import/export meter from the ESB.

Having completed the essential permission stages of the project Patsy began clearly the site in which he planned to erect his micro-wind turbine. At the time he was the owner of a JCB digger so he carried out most of the ground work himself. The whole for the foundations had to be 2.5 meters square by 1 metre deep. The foundations included:

• 2 layers of 2.2m square reinforcing mesh 6mm or heavier with approximately 200mm square holes.

• 100mm soil pipe or similar for cable duct, cast into the concrete. • 35 Newton or better concrete.

When the foundation was completed the turbine was ready to be erected. This was quite a simple process and the installers completed it within a day.

The selected turbine was a 2.5Kw Proven.

Figure 14: 2.5kW Proven


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Figure 15: Concrete base to support 11 metre high mast.

Figure 16: 2.5kW Proven on 11 metre mast.


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The author has calculated the rotor COP (Coefficient of Performance) of Patsy’s Proven 2.5Kw micro-wind turbine.

Description : Rotor diameter 3.5m (Solutions 2012) Density of air 1.2 Average wind speed of Co Cavan 6.9m/s (MetÉireann 2011) Efficiency of conversion of rotational energy to electrical energy.

39% (Greenspec.co.uk)

Rotor COP:

Power of wind

= !! ! ! ! !! ! !

= !! ! 1.2 ! 6.9! ! (! !.!!

!)

= 0.6 ! 328.5 ! 9.62

= 1896.1 !"##

= 1.8 !"

Mechanical energy at the rotor

= Shaft = !.!!.!"

= 5.1 !"

Therefore, the rotor COP

= !.!!.!

= 49%

The next step of the project was to electrically connect up the turbine. Patsy’s installers brought along a registered electrical contractor to ETCI standards to carry out the electrical work. The contractor was required to forward on a valid ETCI electrical completion cert to ESB networks. (ESB 2012a) He also had to forward on details about the invertor (i.e. how it works, what it will do, how it was connected, and how it will cut out during a grid outage). After the turbine was successfully installed and the ESB had received an ETCI certificate, the ESB came to install the import/export meter for a fee of €370. Patsy had to contact his electricity suppliers regarding payment arrangements for any electricity that he would export to the grid. He had to make an agreement with his electricity suppliers to purchase electricity exported and to supply electricity imported.


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Patsy found the whole experience very interesting. “There is a great feeling knowing that you are helping to reduce our carbon footprint whilst saving money in doing so,” says Patsy. However, with the turbine installed almost four years now he is not fully satisfied with the results of the turbine financially. Although he is saving quite a lot on his annual electricity bill, he feels that the initial cost of the turbine and the installation fee will prevent him from ever being able to make his money back.

The author has calculated how long it will take before Patsy can start saving money from his electricity bill as a result of his micro-wind turbine.

Cost and Savings:

Description : Parts €15,175.35c Installation costs €6825 ESB import/export meter €370 Annual yield from turbine 2500kWh Fixed rate for every kWh exported €0.19c (ElectricIreland 2012) Maintenance €250 every 2nd year

Figure 17: Import/Export meter.


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Payback Period:

Capital investment

= €15,175.35+ €6825+ €370 = €22,370.35

Net annual savings

= 2500 ! €0.19! = €475

Therefore, the payback period for Patsy’s micro-wind turbine is:

= !"#$%"& !"#$%&'$"&!""#$% !"#$%&'!!"#$%&$"$'&

= €"",!"#.!"€"#$!€"#$!

= 63.9 years

This calculation proves that the 2.5Kw micro-wind turbine that Patsy installed is not beneficial. Although his annual electricity bill is cut by over half, the financial downfall is the initial cost of parts and installation. The fact that a site analysis was never carried out by the installers may be having an impact on the overall performance of the turbine, “When the wind is blowing from the south west the turbine performs best, but when it is blowing from the north it does not perform as good because the wind is being sheltered from the house and large trees around the house,” says Patsy.

Drawing 1:

North South


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Drawing 2:

As you can see from drawing one, if the wind was to blow from the North, the turbine will not perform to its best due to obstructions from the house and large trees planted in front of the house. However, as you can see in drawing two, if the turbine was initially installed behind the house it would perform to its best no matter what direction the wind is blowing from because it is sited on a higher level than the house and there is no obstructions from trees or any other obstacles. This could increase the annual yield from 2500 kWh to the maximum 5000kWh of a 2.5Kw turbine, therefore increasing the amount of electricity Patsy will export resulting in a greater annual saving and a reduced payback period.

5000 !"ℎ ! €0.19! = €950

= €950− €"#$!

= €825

= €"",!"#.!"€"#$

= 27.1 years

South North


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This would reduce the payback period of Patsy’s micro-wind turbine by 39%. However, if he had to have installed a 6Kw Proven with an annual yield of 10000 kWh instead of a 2.5Kw Proven his payback period would be less again.

Description : Annual yield from turbine 10000 kWh (MandCHybridEnergy 2012) Capital Investment (Proven 6kW) €24,020.55c (MandCHybridEnergy 2012)

10000 !"ℎ ! €0.19! = €1900

= €1900− €"#!!

= €1775

= €"#,!"!.!!€"##$

= 13.5 years

If a proper site analysis was carried out from the beginning of this project, maybe the turbine would have been sighted in a better location (i.e. behind the house) and it would be possible for it achieve its optimum performance of an annual 5000kWh. (Solutions 2012) However, the main problem is that the installed turbine is not capable of producing enough electricity to allow Patsy make his money back, and having availed of the ESB’s incentives of receiving €0.19c for every kWh of exported electricity for three years to date, he can only receive this for another two years. After this he will only receive €0.9c making his payback period longer again unless new regulations are put in place regarding the price of exported electricity. However; the ideal micro-wind turbine for his home still remains to be a Proven 6Kw.


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Conclusions

Conclusions It is evident that at present, micro-wind turbines in Ireland are an emerging piece of technology driven by advances in design, increasing electricity prices and the potential of financial incentives being offered by the government. Wind technology is still positioned quite low in the electricity market in Ireland proving that the Irish public is still not entirely convinced of the potential of this piece of technology. However, it is hoped that some of the information and findings presented in this study will help towards informing people on the merits of micro-wind turbines for domestic application.

The conclusions are as follows:

• Before installing a micro-wind turbine it is vital that a proper site analysis is carried out by a MCS certified installer. This ensures that the turbine is located in the best site possible on the proposed property which allows the turbine to achieve its optimum performance.

• The results from both case studies show that the higher size turbine will produce a larger amount of electricity resulting in a shorter payback period for the owner and eventually the owner might even yield a profit.

• This study has uncovered the need for a reduction of the capital costs for micro-wind turbines. There are a few different ways in which this could be achieved. The first way is if the government were to offer grants for renewable energy technologies. These grants could either be received by the supplier or the consumer as long as it results in the reduction of the turbines capital costs. The second is for manufactures and suppliers to reduce their production cost.

• Currently there is no value put on CO2 emission savings from renewable energy technologies. (Purcell 2008) If this was introduced, it could help the economic viability of this technology.

Recommendations In any future domestic projects it is recommended that within regulation, the highest possible micro-wind turbine is installed. This will reduce the payback period of the turbine and it will allow the owner to eventually make a small profit through exporting electricity. Other recommendations include:

• The government introducing a grant scheme to reduce the capital cost of micro-wind turbines.

• A reduction of value added tax (VAT) on micro-wind turbines. • Credits for each Kg of CO2 saved. • Funding for micro-wind turbine manufacturers and suppliers.


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