Wind power – the lowdown

Giant wind turbines are no longer an uncommon sight in rural areas of the UK, with over 1500 onshore wind farms and over 500 offshore. And as technology advances, investment in wind power shows no signs of slowing down.

But what does this mean for manufacturers and UK businesses? How feasible is it for companies to harness the power of wind for themselves? Many homes and businesses are already investing in solar panels, but wind power could offer a viable alternative or even a complementary solution when solar energy is limited.

Types of wind turbine

Many businesses dismiss the idea of wind power as they don’t have huge amounts of land available to house huge turbines. But industrial-size turbines aren’t the only option. And to understand whether wind power could be viable for your business, it helps to understand the different types of turbines available.

Horizontal-axis wind turbines

These are the ones you’re probably most familiar with as they are the most common and widely used. A rotor made up of three or more blades is attached to a tall tower and, as the blades rotate, the energy is turned into electricity using a gearbox and generator.

Vertical-axis wind turbines

The rotor axis on a vertical-axis wind turbine is positioned vertically and does not need to be pointed into the wind. They are quieter than horizontal-axis wind turbines, but they are less efficient because of the additional drag they produce when the blades rotate into the wind.

Bladeless wind turbines

Bladeless wind turbines harvest wind energy using vertical cylinders or helical structures rather than big blades. As they don’t have big rotor blades, they pose a lower risk to wildlife. They are also quieter than horizontal-axis turbines, take up less space, and require less maintenance.

Small and micro wind turbines

Small and micro wind turbines are the most feasible options for businesses that do not have acres of land available as they require far less space.

There are two types of small or micro wind turbines:

• Building-mounted – these can be mounted on the roof of your building (much like solar panels)
• Standalone (or pole mounted) – these are typically situated away from the building (on a hill if possible)

Building-mounted turbines are often cheaper to install than free-standing turbines and don’t usually require planning permission. However, they don’t produce quite as much energy.

Hybrid

Hybrid systems combine small wind turbines and solar panels, enabling you to take advantage of solar power in summer and wind power in the winter.

Benefits of wind power

The biggest benefit of wind power is to the environment. It is a renewable, sustainable, inexhaustible source of energy using the wind’s natural flow to generate power.
It produces no greenhouse gases, reduces reliance on fossil fuels and lowers your carbon footprint.

But environmental benefits aren’t the only benefits. With turbine designs constantly being improved, wind power is something many manufacturers are now looking to invest in.

Cost savings

Even if you can’t install your own turbine systems, you could still benefit from lower energy prices through power purchase agreements (PPAs). A PPA is an agreement to purchase energy from a named renewable source (e.g. a specific wind farm). This contract can help investors secure finance against the construction of a new wind farm while giving you a fixed energy price over a long term.

Energy independence

Generating your own power (either by wind or other means) reduces your dependence on the grid, which protects you from price volatility. It also ensures greater energy security in remote or off-grid locations where the power supply is inconsistent.

Sustainability and corporate responsibility

As manufacturers are under growing pressure to reduce carbon emissions, it makes sense to consider the switch to renewable energy. This demonstrates a commitment to sustainable practices and also improves brand image.

In addition, potential buyers may require you to satisfy certain sustainability criteria to meet their own green targets, so making the switch could help you win more contracts.

Operational efficiency

Generating your own power will help you create a reliable and consistent power supply which can reduce unplanned downtime and production interruptions. Combine wind and solar power with energy storage systems to balance supply and demand more effectively.

Maintenance and reliability

Advances in turbine technology mean that renewable energy systems have lower maintenance requirements and higher reliability than ever before. And with control and automation systems, you can collect real-time data, integrate and automate power systems, and gain greater control over all operational processes.

Is wind power the right solution for you?

Hopefully, we have shown that wind power is not limited to companies with huge amounts of land.

Mounted turbines are a great option for factories with plenty of roof space (warehouse roofs are ideal) especially if you are in a particularly windy area. These can be installed instead of or in combination with solar panels.

However, even if you don’t have available space, you can still tap into some of the benefits of wind through power purchase agreements (as we’ve mentioned above). Not only would this allow you to access competitive energy rates, but it would also help improve your green credentials.

Improve your energy efficiency with AES

AES offers all the services you’d expect from an electrical contractor, coupled with specialist services specifically for manufacturers.

As part of our mission to collectively reduce carbon emissions, we offer free energy reduction audits.

After completing our assessment, we provide a free quote and a top-level overview of those areas where system upgrades can provide your business with the greatest financial impact.

We offer a wide range of energy reduction services, including:

• Renewable energy design
• Smart controls
• Control and automation systems
• Heat pump installation
• Heat recovery
• Energy-efficient lighting
• Voltage optimisation
• Power factor correction
• Variable speed drives
• Battery Energy Storage Solutions (BESS)
• Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)
• Electrical vehicle charge points

Contact us to book your free energy reduction audit and find out how to make your factory more efficient so you can reduce costs, lower your carbon footprint and improve productivity.