Wind Turbine Components
How does a wind turbine work? When air hits the wind turbine, the blades spin, converting the wind’s kinetic energy into mechanical energy. This rotary motion then travels down the shaft and drives...
View ArticleMaximising Wind Turbine Return
Maximising Wind Turbine Returns To maximise the electricity contribution that a wind turbine can provide you, two interlinked questions need to be considered. How much electricity you would like to...
View ArticleWhy do people hate wind Turbines?
Over recent years the polarising impact of wind turbines seems to have become an every day occurrence in the media. But why are people so against wind turbines? And why is the UK so hell-bent on...
View ArticleCan battery storage become economical?
Some of you may have heard of Tesla, the American company that produces high-end electric vehicles. It was recently announced that they are going to build a new factory, dubbed the Gigafactory to help...
View ArticleThe Problem with Renewables and Intermittency
Renewable Energy sources & their lack of predictability We got an interesting email from one of our readers this morning, regarding Wind Power – glossing over the part where he said that we were...
View ArticleWill my neighbours complain about my solar PV or Wind Turbines?
As long as solar PV and wind power have been around, there have been neighbours who complain about them. Whether it spoils their views or makes too much noise, there is always someone ready to...
View ArticleIntroduction To Wind Turbines
What Are Wind Turbines? Windmills (now also called wind turbines) have been used for millennia to convert the wind’s kinetic energy into mechanical energy. As early as 200 B.C., mechanical energy was...
View ArticleWhy do wind turbines have 3 blades?
If you are the curious type, it may have occurred to you over the years to wonder why most wind turbines have 3 blades. It seems a bit of an odd number – why not 2 or 4, or even just 1? The answer is...
View ArticleHow big a wind turbine do I need?
Wind turbines can be a great way of generating your own energy in rural areas. We think they offer a great complement to traditional forms of energy and other renewables like solar. The thing is, it is...
View ArticleShould I invest in renewable heating or renewable electricity production?
The average energy bill in the UK is now about £1350, this is despite the fact that underlying oil prices have tanked – the energy companies don’t feel the need to pass on these savings to consumers....
View ArticleIs living off grid realistic?
It is realistic to live off grid? Living off grid means that you are not connected to, or rely on the national grid for your energy needs. This will probably involve some sort of energy storage system...
View ArticleWind Power for the home
Wind power is quite an inviting form of power. Looking at it on offshore wind farms, and those big onshore turbines that you see, it seems like a great way to generate renewable energy. Why then, don’t...
View ArticleHow to avoid cowboy tradesmen
Many of the energy saving solutions we talk about on TheGreenAge involve doing some sort of work to your property or business – while some of these are easy DIY solutions, some require the help of a...
View ArticleWhat’s the future for wind power?
Is wind power a safe bet? As long as the wind is blowing, it certainly seems a safe source of renewable energy. The same amount of energy generated from all the plants in the world today could be...
View ArticleOffshore wind energy may soon be cheaper than fossil fuels
11 leading offshore wind companies signed a document ahead of Monday’s EU Council meeting, stating that within a decade, offshore wind could generate electricity as cheaply as fossil fuels. However, it...
View Article70% of the UK’s energy from low-carbon sources!
Last Sunday (11th June) saw solar, wind and nuclear providing a record 70% of the UK’s electricity. This is a huge milestone which shows how much renewables can bring to the UK’s energy mix. The huge...
View ArticleThe Week in Energy
Scottish Power to Raise Energy Prices (Again) Scottish Power is to raise its standard variable gas and electricity prices from 8 October. It is the second price increase announced by Scottish Power...
View ArticleWhy the Government Pays Wind Farms to Lie Dormant
Wind farms are turning off their turbines when it’s windy, and we’re paying them to do it. But why? What are constraint payments? Constraint payments are the name given to the compensation paid out to...
View ArticleThe Green Room: Episode 10 – Home Energy Saving Q&A
The Green Room: What happens when you put two sustainability experts in a room and ask them…. well, whatever you want? We put your questions to James and Nick, from solar panels and boiler...
View ArticleIs Renewable Energy Really More Expensive?
Generating renewable energy Renewable energy is a handy term to describe a vast number of different technologies. From solar power to tidal energy, the renewable umbrella covers anything that harnesses...
View Article