Medium Wind Turbines for Business

Small Scale, Big Impact

Typically, wind turbines are seen as large devices that generate significant amounts of power. Whilst it is true that most onshore installations are MW scale (large-capacity wind turbines, typically rated at 1 megawatt (MW) or higher) and over 100m tall, this isn’t always the case. Smaller versions of these highly efficient, renewable generators do exist and businesses with ownership of these assets can see significant benefits.

This article explores which business are most likely to benefit from these turbines, and the development process for these renewable energy powerhouses.

What is a “Medium Wind Turbine”

Generally, this classification can be determined as anything above 50 kW and below 500 kW in terms of rated power. Or alternatively, a turbine that’s maximum height is less than 100m. This is particularly important because height is a significant factor in receiving consent from the local planning authority when it comes to wind turbine developments.

This classification excludes all large turbines greater than 1MW in rated power, which typically produce significantly more power than even large commercial enterprises require.

The Sweet Spot

The medium turbine class can fulfil a sweet spot in the wind turbine market – one where planning consent can be more easily granted, the space requirements are lower, and the amount of electricity generated is more suitable for many businesses.

Typically, a 100 kW turbine can range in max height from 30m to 50m. The height variation also means that space requirements can vary from around a 60m radius to a 35m radius away from any site boundaries.

In the case of wind power, however, bigger is better. A taller turbine will be able to access stronger winds and generate more electricity so it’s best to choose the tallest turbine possible for the available space.

This flexibility means that many more sites could install a wind turbine and discover the benefits of wind generation.

Ultimately, generation is the key driver for deploying a wind turbine. Whether motivated by financial savings, green credentials, or energy independence, all deployments need the generation to align with their goals and needs.

The below graph shows how much a 100 kW turbine generates in different wind speeds across the year.

For many businesses, a medium turbine will produce just the right amount of energy for their needs – not too much and not too little. If your business consumes between 100 MWh/year and 500 MWh/year, you’re in the ‘sweet spot’ for a medium sized wind turbine. If your business’ energy consumption is consistent, then a wind turbine could enable a significant reduction in grid imported electricity – above 70% in some cases.

Development Process

Wind turbine developments can take time. However, recent changes to planning regulations are challenging this, with further government policy changes expected soon, to speed up the planning process and grant more developments permission to build.

Here at Ennovus Solutions we specialise in supporting our clients from start to finish, by completing all the necessary stages on behalf of our clients through a structured approach.

If you’d like to find out more about Medium Wind Turbines and how they can benefit your business, get in touch with us today and speak to one of our expert advisors.

¹Assumes UK average consumption of 2,700 kWh/year

²For a business consuming 70% of generated electricity with bills of 25p/kWh