BWEA welcomes the Carbon Trust’s recent report on small wind systems. There can now be little doubt that the UK is in a fantastic position to benefit from correctly sited small wind systems. At the right locations, small wind systems can produce electricity cheaper than the grid and payback their embedded carbon within months. With the best wind resources in Europe, today the UK has literally millions of homes and businesses waiting to benefit from the effective deployment of this technology.

The report states that in theory small wind systems could contribute 8% of UK electricity, but acknowledges that with today’s technology, current electricity prices means the technology is only scratching the surface of what may be possible. Nonetheless this means that nearly 2 million homes and business can successfully benefit from small wind systems today. With technology costs reducing and fossil fuels prices set to continue to increase, the potential of this technology is only going to grow.

Alex Murley, BWEA Small-system manager said “This is good news for consumers and UK industry. Micro- and small-wind is the only microgeneration technology in which the UK currently holds world leadership. With over 14 British manufacturers, currently experiencing annual domestic market growth of over 80%, as well as expanding export trade, this emerging UK industry could deliver tens of thousands of jobs as well as make valuable contribution in helping consumers to cutting carbon emissions and generate their own clean renewable energy.