Urban Wind Turbines: A feasibility study

Current planning guidance in London requires all new and refurbished large buildings to produce 20 % of their electrical needs via renewable means (GLA, 2004). This policy came into effect in 2004. In compliance with the guidance London South Bank University installed a 6 kW wind turbine upon a refurbished office building. This paper summarises an investigation into the relationship between wind, energy, noise and vibration for the urban wind turbine. The eighteen month feasibility study took the form of measurement and predictions of wind, noise, vibration and energy generated. It concluded through optimising the position and height of the urban wind turbine it is possible to better harness the local wind resource such that the price per kWh generated is reduced to £0.15 over a 30 year period. This compares to the price per kWh of the current installation of £0.40. It was also found that the local community would normally not be affected by the noise produced by the turbine.