Glasgow based small wind turbine manufacturer Gaia-Wind told the UK’s largest renewable industry gathering that the rise and rise of Utilities’ energy bills is fuelling a move towards powering rural homes and farms from their own resources.
Speaking at Renewables UK 2012 in Glasgow, Scotland, Gaia-Wind Sales Manager Kenneth Peterson set out how while the current trend of energy price rises threatens to engulf UK consumers, “they aint seen nuthin yet!”
Glasgow based small wind turbine manufacturer Gaia-Wind told the UK’s largest renewable industry gathering that the rise and rise of Utilities’ energy bills is fuelling a move towards powering rural homes and farms from their own resources.
Speaking at Renewables UK 2012 in Glasgow, Scotland, Gaia-Wind Sales Manager Kenneth Peterson set out how while the current trend of energy price rises threatens to engulf UK consumers, “they aint seen nuthin yet!”
According to comparison site uSwitch, the UK average annual household energy bill has seen a more than 150% increase since 2004. And government estimates of the cost of the carbon price taxes at almost £5.00 per tonne means that billions more will be will be added to bills from next year.[i]
While city dwellers have limited recourse, farmers and rural homes and businesses are looking to an ancient technology, wind power.
A recent Barclay’s Bank survey found that:
• The vast majority of UK farmers (82 per cent) who are looking to invest in renewable energy are motivated by concerns over rising energy costs;
• Almost a third of farmers expect a move towards renewables to reduce costs or generate an income; and
• Over one quarter (27 per cent) of farmers see rising costs as the single biggest threat to their business in the next five years.
Perthshire farmers Debbie and Neil McGowan are examples. Their 11kW Gaia-Wind turbine powers their water bore hole; cattle sheds; and farmhouse and has given them control over their rising electricity bills:
“We own a mixed livestock and arable farm in Perthshire, “said Debbie. “About two years ago we decided to lower our carbon footprint and reduce our energy costs. We thought a farm scale wind turbine may offer a solution. Being able to take control over a variable cost such as rising electricity bills was a big motivation.”
“Across the rural economy,” Peterson said, “farms, households and businesses are generating their own energy using the wind. This is not a luxury: a farm scale wind turbine for example, can be the difference between viability of a rural business and otherwise.”
“Small wind turbine owners in the UK can play a ‘Three Card Trick’, to future proof against spiralling energy costs. They can:
• Offset their utilities bill by using their own energy – even switching from e.g. oil heating can be cost efficient
• Sell remainder of energy generation back to the Grid; and
• Still receive considerable FIT payments of 21p for every unit generated
Notes to editors
For further information call Martin Paterson on 07920715345, email martin.paterson@gaia-wind.com or visit www.gaia-wind.com
1. Gaia-Wind Ltd is a manufacturer of world leading high performance Small Wind Turbines, servicing farms, rural properties, businesses, and community projects.
2. The company is headquartered in Glasgow, with offices in Denmark and Italy and has appointed distributors in England, Ireland, and the US.
3. Almost 600 Gaia-Wind turbines have been “in the ground” for a combined operational time of more than 14 million hours. That’s over 1,500 years. In Denmark, 77 of our Gaia-Wind turbines have been running for more than 10 years