Small Wind Turbines: rb&m research on resource forecasting

Small Wind Turbine (SWT) on Barra, Outer Hebrides. Picture: Colin Meek

As the new Labour Government lifts England’s ‘de-facto’ planning ban on onshore wind power, there is renewed interest in small-scale wind energy. Recent electricity price inflation means that the economic case for standalone turbines has improved. Even so, more powerful small wind turbines (SWTs) can cost tens of thousands of pounds which means that financial case relies on reliable and realistic estimates of generation.

rb&m is a member of the MCS Technical Working Group for small-scale wind energy and, as part of a wider project on performance estimates, we carried out original research comparing wind resource forecasting methodologies. The project is set out in: Small wind turbine performance: market context and a study of energy generation forecasting methodologies.

Our report describes the research and places the results within the UK market context and international evidence on a range of market barriers. Those challenges are remarkably similar in the US and Europe and focus on the need to develop market trust. The evidence indicates that, whilst planning has been a policy concern in England, it’s not the whole story.