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A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy (the energy of motion) of wind energy into electrical energy. Wind turbines are the modern version of a windmill. 

Wind turbines can be stand alone, supplying one or a small number of homes or businesses, or they can be clustered together to form part of a wind farm.

Scotland’s first wind turbine was created by Professor James Blyth at his holiday home in Marykirk, Aberdeenshire in 1887. It was 10 metres high and had a sail cloth. The energy generated was stored and used to power lights in his cottage!

How do wind turbines work? 

1. The wind blows over the turbine and forces the blades to rotate. 
2. The rotating blades connect to gears that drive a generator. 
3. The generator turns the kinetic energy of the moving blades into electricity. 
4. An inverter transforms the direct current (DC) from the generator into alternating current (AC) to use in the home. 
5. Electricity travels into a transformer that then transports the energy to your home or the grid. 

Types of wind turbines

There are three main types of domestic turbines. 

• Standalone pole mounted – which are free standing turbines that work best in open spaces where they would be exposed to wind. 
• Building mounted – these are smaller than pole mounted systems and can be installed on the roof of your home.
• Micro turbines – typically used ‘off-grid’ and used to generate batteries. 

What are the benefits of wind turbines? 

• Cut electricity bills – Wind is free, therefore your electricity costs will be reduced. 
• Store electricity – Like solar panels, if you have battery storage, you can store excess electricity from wind turbines to use later. 
• Paid to export extra electricity – If you are generating more electricity than you can use or store, you may be able to use the smart export guarantee. The scheme pays you to export extra electricity to the grid. 
• Reduce your carbon dioxide emissions – Wind generated electricity is renewable electricity and doesn’t realise any carbon emissions. 

How much do wind turbines cost to install? 

Wind turbines range from around £2,000 for a micro turbine to £25,000 for a standalone turbine. However, you also need to factor in planning permission, site preparation, and grid connection, which could bring the total cost to £40,000.

Can I put a wind turbine on my property? 

If you want to know if you could have a wind turbine on your property, there are a few questions to answer first. 

1. What is your wind speed? Idealy wind turbines need a wind speed of 5m/s (meters per second) to be cost effective.
   The best way to calculate wind speed around your property is to find out with an anemometer (a device that uses sonic waves to measure wind speed) or a wind gauge. It would be best practice to install one of these devices first in the place you plan to put your wind turbine, and leave it there for a few months.  This will give you the best data to decide if a wind turbine is right for you. 
2. Do you need planning permission – It is always best practice to speak with North Ayrshire Council.
   However in Scotland, you’ll need to get planning permission for a roof mounted wind turbine. You don’t need planning permission for standalone wind turbines as long as :
   1. It’s the only wind turbine on the property
   2. It’s more than 100 meters away from your next door neighbour
   3. You’re not installing it on a world heritage site, scientific research land, near a listed building or near land for archeological purposes. 

How do I get a wind turbine? 

Whilst we cannot make recommendations directly, you can find a list of accredited providers who have provided services to Arran here. You may be eligible for funding, a grant or loan for a wind turbine via Home Energy Scotland. You can see our list of current funding, grants and loan information here.

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