Eco Evolution Blog

Three Evance R9000 5kW wind turbines and a substantial battery backup system have been installed at the 500-year-old Kirkstone Pass Inn in the Lake District National Park by microgeneration experts Evance. The Inn is believed to be linked to an ancient 15th Century monastery, records for this building date back to 1496AD.

The Kirkstone Pass Inn. Photo by David Hall.

The Inn being off-Grid was in its ancient past candle lit with open fires. It had relied in modern times entirely on expensive  diesel generators for all electrical power resulting in diesel bills last year totalling some £25,000. With the Evance small wind turbines the owner can now take advantage of the Inn’s remote location at the picturesque summit of the Cumbrian Kirkstone Pass and harness the power of the wind.

Looking back to the Kirkstone Pass Inn. Photo by David Hall.

Owner John Jennings said “We simply had to look at alternative power sources or face inevitable closure. Although we are in a remote location, we wanted a solution appropriate for use within a National Park and one that would let us generate electricity in a more environmentally-friendly way. Using the energy generated by Evance’s turbines we are committed to cutting our diesel bills by at least 75%. I’ve been pleasantly surprised that the majority of visitors haven’t even noticed the turbines until they have been pointed out! New green technology powering an iconic historic inn is proving to be an interesting talking point at the bar.

Three Evance R9000 5kW windturbines installed at Kirkstone Pass Inn

Diesel generators produce a lot of carbon waste, as well as being noisy, so generating power using the turbines will dramatically reduce the use of diesel. The turbines alone will reduce the Inns’ CO₂ emissions by over 22 tonnes per  year supporting a low-carbon Lake District.

Kevin Parslow, CEO of Evance Wind Turbines said “We’re delighted that the Inn, like so many other remote rural businesses and homes chose the R9000 small wind turbines to deliver a clear financial and environmental improvement on their existing energy generating systems. It’s good to know that this historic inn will be there for visitors in the years to come.”

The Kirkstone Pass Inn for the first time in it’s 500+ year  history has Power Without Pollution!

Note: Eco Evolution are resellers and installers of the Evance 5kW R9000 windturbine in Ireland.

Micro-generation covers small scale generators where customers can generate their own electricity and export the surplus back to the grid. Microgeneration technologies include small scale wind turbines, hydro turbines and solar photovoltaic systems.

Evance R9000 5kW Wind Turbine

Electric Ireland have extended their micro-generation payment of (9 cent / kWh) by a further year to 31st December 2012. This will be the second successive year that the expiry date has been extended and it reinforces Electric Ireland’s commitment to its support of customers who install a domestic micro-generator.

ESB Networks continue to offer a support package up until 29th February 2012, comprising of a free installation of import / export meter and payment of a support payment of (10 cent / kWh) which applies to the first 3,000kWh exported annually. This payment will last for a period of 5 years and will end on the 5th anniversary of the contract start date.

The ESBN micro-generation payment (10 cent / kWh) and the free installation of import/export meters will not be extended beyond 29th February 2012.  Import/export meters will now be charged at approx €350.00.

Solar pv slates

Budget 2012 and VAT refund for Farmers

The 2012 Budget included an extension of the existing VAT Refund Order for flat-rate farmers to include a refund on the purchase of wind turbines.

The existing VAT refund order, which provides for the refund of VAT paid by un-registered farmers on the construction of farm buildings, fencing, drainage and reclamation of farm land, has been amended to provide that such farmers may claim a refund on wind turbines supplied and installed after  1st January 2012.

Archimedean Screw Hydro Turbine ~ Shane’s Castle

REFIT – Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff

REFIT stands for ‘Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff’ and is the primary means through which electricity from renewable sources is supported in Ireland.

The REFIT II scheme (onshore wind, small hydro and landfill gas) is open as and from 23rd March 2012 and the REFIT III (biomass technologies) scheme opened in February  2012. Both schemes are for projects built and operational between 1/1/10 and  31/12/15.

Terms and conditions for REFIT II (Onshore wind, hydro and biomass landfill gas) can be found here

The REFIT II scheme is intended to cover small and large scale onshore wind, biomass landfill gas and small hydro (?5MW.) To be eligible for REFIT II, the various requirements that will be set out in the terms and conditions must be fulfilled including proof of planning permission and grid connection -plants must be new plants neither built nor under construction on 1/1/2010.

Terms and conditions for  REFIT III (Biomass Technologies) can be found here

REFIT III is a scheme to cover 310MW of certain biomass related REFIT categories as follows:

> 50MW of AD sub technologies (AD CHP ?500 kW ; AD CHP >500 kW; AD (non CHP) ?500kW ; AD (non CHP) >500kW);

> 100MW of Biomass CHP (non AD) sub technologies (biomass CHP ?1500kW; Biomass CHP >1500kW);

> 160MW of biomass combustion and co-firing.

NOTE:

The REFIT II and REFIT III competitions are separate schemes with separate terms and conditons in respect of each scheme.

New clarifications may issue in due course on the new Terms and Conditions, if deemed necessary.

Evance R9000 5kW Wind Turbine

Renewable energy is key to our low-carbon energy future, as well as diversifying energy sources. Today wind power continues to gain ground as a profitable and effective energy source.

Evance Wind Turbines have been manufacturing and supplying small wind turbines for over 10 years. The R9000 5kW wind turbine has been engineered to ensure maximum energy yield by generating energy at low wind speeds, and by running continuously and safely at high wind speeds – the most efficient 5KW turbine available.

Using the latest advances in aerodynamics and electronics, their engineers set out to bring you one of the most advanced small wind turbines on the market with unsurpassed efficiency, reliability and safety.

Testing and qualifying the product in the most extreme of conditions meant that the Evance R9000 was the first wind turbine under 10kW to be fully certified under the UK Government Industry Standard, Microgeneration Certification Scheme.  This accreditation is a formal recognition of the durability, reliability, safety and overall performance of the R9000, which provides customers with confidence in the turbine.

Evance R9000 installed in Dublin

The Evance R9000 Advanced Wind Turbine is the result of 10 years of dedicated research and development, and is based on the experience of designing utility scale turbines. Specifically designed to work with the wind to capture more energy at lower wind speeds, the R9000 is the most efficient 5kW turbine available, producing more energy a year than other 5kW, 6kW and even 10kW turbines. Combining patented state of the art technology and elegant design, the R9000 belongs to the ‘next generation’ of small wind turbines, offering class leading quality, performance and reliability.

The R9000 starts generating energy at low wind speeds and is designed to run continuously at high wind speeds, so providing the maximum yield possible – giving you energy generation when the wind is blowing it’s strongest.

At low to moderate wind speeds the patented pitch system, Reactive Pitch™, holds the blades in the optimum position for capturing maximum energy from the wind. At high wind speeds the R9000’s Reactive Pitch™ mechanism automatically pitches the blades so it can regulate energy capture and blade speed. It therefore continues to capture energy – up to the full 5kW power rating.

The R9000 is manufactured in the UK at new purpose-built facilities near Loughborough. Using automotive experience, each one is assembled under strict quality control. Every R9000 undergoes final testing to ensure that it complies with Evance exacting standards.

The R9000 wind turbine delivers class leading energy yields allowing households and businesses to reduce electricity bills substantially, and in some cases generate an income.

By capturing power at low and high wind speeds the R9000 can generate 9,167kW with Annual Mean Wind Speed (AMWS) of 5m/s  (11.2mph).

Average Power vs Wind Speed

Annual Energy Yield vs Annual Mean Wind Speed

Export Tariff Update:

Electric Ireland have extended their micro-generation payment of (9 cent / kWh) by a further year to 31st December 2012. This will be the second successive year that the expiry date has been extended and it reinforces Electric Ireland’s commitment to its support of customers who install a domestic micro-generator.

ESB Networks continue to offer a support package up until 29th February 2012, comprising of a free installation of import / export meter and payment of a support payment of (10 cent / kWh) which applies to the first 3,000kWh exported annually. This payment will last for a period of 5 years and will end on the 5th anniversary of the contract start date.

The ESBN micro-generation payment (10 cent / kWh) and the free installation of import/export meters will not be extended beyond 29th February 2012.  Import/export meters will now be charged at approx €350.00.

The average electricity consumption in Ireland is 5,000kWh per household per year. The R9000 can generate 13,653kWh, based on an annual mean wind speed of 6m/s, more than enough electricity to run two households.  There are also planning exemptions for small-scale wind turbines in Ireland.

Evance R9000

The R9000 requires minimal maintenance

Both the wind turbine and the tower are designed to provide outstanding durability – a minimum design life of 20 years. With few mechanical parts, in particular no gearbox, the R9000’s maintenance is minimal.

The Evance 5kW Wind Turbine installed on a farm in Boolavogue, Co. Wexford: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH5hfrw1lbI

For further information read the Evance R9000 brochure.

Click here  for more information on Micro-generation export and refit tariff updates.