Wind turbines have been on the UK's domestic market for many years but their popularity and public awareness is now increasing substantially.

The amount of electricity generated by a wind turbine is directly related to the size of the wind turbine and the amount of wind available. As it is unlikely that the wind will be blowing all day everyday, similarly to PV Electric, it is preferable that the system is balanced by connection to the National Grid. Wind Turbines usually work in wind speeds from around 4mph to around 30mph. They are usually mounted on a stand-alone mast and connect to a property via a transformer and isolation switch and preferably an export meter linked to an electricity supply company or the Grid.

Wind turbines use large blades to catch the wind. When the wind blows the blades are forced round, driving a turbine which generates electricity. The stronger the wind, the more electricity is produced.

There are two types of domestic-sized wind turbine:

• Mast mounted: these are free standing and are erected in a suitably exposed position, often around 2.5kW to 6kW
• Roof mounted: these are smaller than mast mounted systems and can be installed on the roof of a home where there is a suitable wind resource. Often these are around 1kW to 2kW in size.

This is a diagram of  a commercial wind turbine that dissects the various elements required to generate electricity from the wind.