CASE STUDY


The performance of the compact Airdolpin (left) can match that of a much larger wind turbine


Turbine is perfect choice for coastal YMCA Cornwall leisure site uses microgeneration to cut bills as well as educate visitors


ollowing the decision to build a new wind turbine on the Cornish coast, the YMCA in Penzance has significantly cut its CO2 emissions and energy bills, as well as creating an educational talking point for visitors and locals alike.


F The site’s decision to invest in clean


energy generation followed an energy survey by British Gas to identify the most appropriate energy-saving tech- nologies. Micro wind generation was chosen as the best choice to harness the natural power of the coastal envi- ronment, and to introduce a striking new feature into the local landscape. YMCA Penzance is a busy com- munity facility with a wide variety


of energy requirements. The site houses a 53-bed backpacker hostel with kitchen and laundry facilities, a dance studio, sports hall and confer- ence rooms. It also offers supported housing for up to 30 young homeless people at any one time.


The wind turbine chosen was the


Airdolphin, a third-generation turbine whose performance matches that of a much larger turbine. Weighing in at just 17.5kg, the 1kW unit is designed to respond quickly to variable wind conditions – operating from speeds as low as 2.5m/s right up to more force- ful wind speeds of 50m/s.


At an average wind speed of 7m/s, the unit is able to reduce the site’s


FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF MICROGENERATION


The case for installing renewable energy became all the more attractive for busi- nesses and homeowners when the government’s feed-in tariffs came into effect in April 2010. Any organisation with an on-site sys- tem that generates energy up to a capacity of 5MW (sufficient power for a large factory) can get paid for the energy it produces as well as the excess energy that's transported back to the national grid. As that business also needs to buy less energy, the savings achieved through microgeneration can be significant. Technologies eligible for feed-in tariffs include wind turbines, solar photo-voltaic


panels, biomass generators and smaller- scale gas-powered combined heat and power (CHP) units. For heat generation, the government’s


Renewable Heat Incentive was intro- duced in July and is being billed as the first scheme of its kind in the world. Like feed-in tariffs, it will offer financial incen- tives for businesses and homes to install renewable heating systems such as solar thermal panels, ground source heat pumps and biomass boilers. Businesses with installations below 200kW will be the first to benefit – receiving a fixed quarterly payment based on metered heat output, system size and type.


Find out more: www.britishgas.co.uk/business 0845 955 5820


Has the total amount you spend on energy gone up or down in the last year?


n 50% of those surveyed said it had gone up by an average of 23% n 23% said it had stayed the same n 27% said it had gone down by an average of 15%


CO2 emissions by over 1,000kg each year (an average small business will typically produce emissions of over 5,000kg per year).


Designed to imitate natural forms and functions, the Airdolphin’s unique swing rudder system is modelled on a dol- phin’s tail, while its turbine blades are grooved like an owl’s wing to reduce air- flow and minimise noise pollution. This was an important consideration, given that the site’s accommodation units are situated nearby.


Spokesperson for the YMCA Penzance, Linzi Chappell, says that alongside its energy-saving benefits, the wind turbine has created a great deal of interest from visitors.“It was the first Airdolphin to be installed in the region, and we’ve even had some people booking a room here just so they could come to see it,” she says. With the YMCA a popular base for field trips and educational visits for thousands of young people, the site can offer a valuable working example of microgeneration in action. l


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