Residential Wind Power

Although this is not exactly a residential wind turbine it certainly works on the same principal as a vertical axis wind turbine or a spiral wind mill.  The turbine in question doesn’t convert wind into eco friendly electricity but instead uses the ebb and flow of ocean waves to generate 1.2 megawatts of clean hydropower.

The £10million SeaGen turbine based in Northern Ireland’s Strangford Lough generated enough green energy during testing to supply power to over 150 homes. Full-blown production of the first commercial wave powered generator in Ireland is expected later in the year where it will power over 1000 homes.

Working like an underwater windmill, the turbine’s two rotors are propelled by some of the world’s fastest tidal flows that stream in and out of the Lough at speeds of up to 8 knots.

It is moored to the sea floor 400 metres from the shore and will work for about 20 hours each day. No energy is generated during tide changes as tidal speed drops to below 2 knots.

Greenies fear not - The speed of the rotors is so low - no more than 10 to 15 revolutions per minute - that they are unlikely to pose a threat to marine wildlife.