Can I mount my turbine on the roof of one of my buildings?

This is probably the most asked question of any, and the one to which there is the least agreement in the entire worldwide small wind industry, as to the correct answer.

Segen does not currently supply a wind turbine that can be mounted onto a roof and does not generally recommend a small wind generator in an urban environment, but we will be following developments within the industry with keen interest.

Mike Bergey, head of the world’s largest small turbine manufacturer has been quoted as saying he:

“wishes people would stop asking us about mounting turbines on buildings”

Paul Gipe, one of America’s most respected small wind experts says;

“Mounting wind turbines--of any kind--on a building is a very bad idea. I've yet to see an application where this has worked or will likely work.”

What is however clear, and accepted by (nearly) everyone is that, if you are going to mount a turbine on a roof then you have to consider some issues, which are more prevalent than with a mast mounted rural one;

1. There will be increased turbulence and this will result in higher stresses on the turbine and lower energy capture for any given wind speed.
2. There will be more people living and working near the turbine so increased margins of safety need to be applied, and lower noise generated.
3. Extra measures may need to be taken to limit the transmission of vibrations into the structure of the building.
4. The average wind speed in a town or city environment will be a lot less than the national wind speed database (NOABL) indicates, and this will significantly reduce the annual energy capture.

Further Reading

If you would like to learn more about the issues with roof mounting or urban installations of small wind generators, then the links below may be of interest to you.

• Times article on urban turbines - 17th February 2007.
• REUK article on Consumers Disappointed With Micro Turbines - 15th January 2007.
• BBC Newsnight "Ethical Man" video clip on roof top turbines - 22nd December 2006.
• Guardian article on roof top mounted small wind turbines - 21st December 2006.
• Warwick Wind Trials - A real life study of small rooftop mounted wind turbines.
• Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC) report on building mounted turbines.
• European Union "WINEUR" project on urban wind.
• Paul Gipe's article on roof mounting small wind turbines.
• Paul Gipe's article on UK roof mounted turbine manufacturers.
• Ocean Solar's experiments in roof mounting.
• Hugh Piggot's "Windspeed Measurements in the City".
• Observer article of roof top mounting small wind turbines - 15th June 2006.
• Building for the future article on roof mounting (Page 17).