The west of Ireland has the best wind resources in Europe. You can now sell any electricity you generate on your farm with back to the ESB. The introduction of a ‘feed-in’ tariff for every kilowatt hour of electricity that you generate you can now export this to the grid. ESB will pay 19c for the first 3000 kWh’s exported to the grid and 9c for every kilowatt hour over the 3000. This, together with savings you make by using your own electricity too, means there has never been a better time to start generating your own electricity on your farm; or indeed in your individual homes, small businesses, and communities.
With the assistance of Elementary Energy — which specialises in high quality renewable energy systems including wind turbine supply and installations — you can begin harnessing the wind to meet your own needs while also getting paid for any surplus electricity that you generate on your site.
Based in Corofin, Co Galway, Elementary Energy is the only appointed approved supplier/installer of the beautifully engineered Eoltec domestic wind turbine in the Republic of Ireland.
This French engineered wind turbine has been designed without compromise, using the same state of the art wind turbine technologies used in large scale wind generators. Most other domestic wind turbines use outdated technology which has poorer performance and reliability. The Eoltec ‘Scirocco’ is characterised by low rotation speeds (with variable pitch control ), and very high efficiency, especially in lower to medium wind speeds that are prevailing most the time, meaning that this turbine can produce electricity for about 70 per cent to 85 per cent of the time.
On a suitable site the Eoltec turbine can produce about 15,000 kWh per year. The average four bedroom home uses about 5,000 kWh of electricity per year. With durability, low maintenance, and long life in mind, the Eoltec turbine has undergone successful testing in some of the harshest wind conditions in Europe. The Eoltec ‘Scirocco’ is the highest producing 6 kW turbine, without equivalent, on the market (producing up to 25,000 kWh per year on some sites ).
Solar photovoltaic
On sites that are not suitable for wind turbines, solar PV (photovoltaic ) panels provide another option for producing your own electricity. Worldwide production of PV solar modules has doubled every two years since 2002, making it the fastest growing energy technology. In Ireland good quality PV solar panels will produce around 800kWh a year. In a typical three bed house (using 3300 kWh/yr of electricity ), a PV system of 1.5 – 2 kWp (about 12- 15m ) could provide 30 per cent to 40 per cent of the annual electricity requirements.
PV systems may be installed in existing buildings as well as new builds. The installation usually involves minimum disruption and should take no more than two days.
Experience and know-how
As experienced electrical contractors staff at Elementary Energy know the importance of having all major electrical works carried out by suitably qualified personnel, as such, all electrical installations are carried out by experienced qualified electricians fully certified in both wind turbine and solar PV installation.
If you would like further information or would like your site to be assessed for suitability for a wind turbine or Solar PV panels contact Mike O’Rourke or John Joyce at Elementary Energy on 093 32843; [email protected] or www.elementaryenergy.ie
