Wind Turbine Installation

Advance Electronics very own MicroWind Generator up and running

This page is intended to be a record of how Advance installed one of the very first MicroWind generators truly grid tied anywhere in the world.

The Windsave product is essentially very simple; a pole mount roof top turbine (1.75m dia) is directly connected through a patented "plug and save module" into your existing electrical network. The generator actively reduces your electricity bills whenever the wind is blowing.

Simple as this sounds it is a huge leap forward in comparison to older technologies which rely upon battery storage or shunt loads.

Windsave benefits over older technologies

• No batteries = smaller size, weight and maintenance costs
• Direct mains connection = reduced electrical installation
• No dedicated circuits or shunt loads = green electricity used first only excess is paid for

Advance Manufactures the Windsave Plug and Save module and Advance's MD Nathan Briggs has been helping the Windsave team for years to develop the technology.

Some caveats

This installation was done as a one off, the vast majority of Windsave installations will be using standardised poles and bracketry, since ours is one of the first special bracketry has been designed. Furthermore since our site will be used for test and development a lot has been done to make the turbine easily accessible, which would be unnecessary extra expense on a typical installation.

Due to the poor wind location at Advance ( a secluded vale with lots of high trees) we chose a site which is effectively 7m above ground level (low) but nearly 3m above the roof height and 2m above the peak.

Such an installation would normally require planning permission but as ours is temporary it does not.

All the equipment comes pre-assembled where possible, this makes for a larger overall package especially with the rotor but alleviates the time-intensive balancing required.

Assembly of the generator is simply a question of bolting on the rotor and snapping on the hub cap and then bolting on the tail fin. All bolts are applied to torque settings, one of the many reasons specialised installers are required for the job.

The generator is connected to the pole via a slip ring assembly and the power cable can be threaded through the pole.

At the base of the pole an emergency brake switch is fitted, this allows for safe isolation of the power and is a reassuring safety feature in freak wind conditions.

The plug and save module is connected as near as possible to the generator and can be hardwired into a local switched fused spur or a dedicated radial circuit.

Since completing the installation we have had great weather for two weeks but whenever the wind has blown we have been generating green electricity and saving money

keep checking back for further updates...

Tel: +44 1978 821000

UK: 01978 821 000

© AEL Group