It's no breeze making switch to wind power (UK)

Excerpt:
"Wind speeds have been increased by global warming, and the British Wind Energy Association says the UK could become a world leader in small wind energy technologies. But these are early days. The Energy Saving Trust is testing the performance of several wind turbines mounted on houses, and its report is due next year.

Meanwhile, at least two companies claim to have cracked the noise issue. Quiet Revolution has ample demand for its 6kW, £25,000 turbine. This has twisted helical blades that turn more slowly than models with propeller blades. The company is developing a version which can be mounted on a house, and which should be available late next year (http://www.quietrevolution.co.uk/).

And Edinburgh-based Renewable Devices (http://www.renewabledevices.com/, 0131 535 3301) has developed the Swift, which, it says, is the world's first silent, building-mounted turbine, designed to eliminate unwanted vibration. It can generate 1·5kW, but it costs £4,500. Increased production could knock a third off the price by next year.

Prices will continue to come down. Windsave's David Gordon says: "By combining solar and wind energy, consumers could soon save 40-50 per cent of their energy bill.""

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