UK energy scheme uses SA wind turbine
5 October 2012
South African wind turbine company Kestrel Renewable Energy, a subsidiary of
battery manufacturer Eveready, was awarded United Kingdom certification for its
small wind turbine in August, and the turbine will be used for the UK's feed-in tariff
(Fit) scheme.
The Kestrel e400nb 3.5kW turbine is the first of its kind to receive approval from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).
MCS is an independent product certification scheme that is supported by the UK
Government's energy and climate change department and the MCS Steering Group.
The Fit scheme allows UK citizens who own wind turbines to be paid for the
electricity it produces.
"The Kestrel e400nb is rated at 3.5kW and being a high quality machine, has a mass
of 250kg with a blade rotor diameter of four metres," Kestrel said in a statement.
"The electricity supply is preferentially wind power and any shortfall during peak
demand is supplied
by the grid. The end users’ energy bill is therefore reduced by the
amount of wind energy harvested."
As a result of the MCS certification, the Kestrel wind turbine has also been conditionally
registered in the United States with the North American Small Wind Certification
Council.
"The US government and state incentives to install wind energy in the US include tax
credits, interest-free loans and Fit schemes," Kestrel said.
"The MCS certification is also cited by many European countries as a benchmark of
robust quality, performance and safety."
SAinfo reporter
