The technology is well understood and the size of wind turbines nominally range between 100 watt and 3 Mw. The smallest machines produce DC power and the largest machines utilise sophisticated technology that produces at voltages allowing despatch to the local distribution network.

Advantages

· Probably the lowest cost sustainable power technology.
· Smaller machines are relatively easy to install
· Good reliability, but machines do require routine maintenance.
· Can generate reasonable levels of output.

Limitations

· Wind resources (nominally above 7 metres per second wind speed required).
· Can be difficult to obtain planning and consents.
· Large machines can be considered visually unattractive (mixed view).
· Large machines require purpose built roads and accesses.

Costs

Estimated at less than £1 per watt installed (£1 million per Mw)

Applications

· Large wind generators could supply a significant proportion of the power required for development.
· Low visual profile machines (e.g. 20 Kw) could provide power to housing clusters, small office blocks, shops etc.
· Small wind generators could be incorporated with PV to provide remote power services or un-interruptible power supplies.