Category Archives: UK small wind scene

Secondhand batteries

Posted on 24/07/2012 by hugh

If anyone needs cheap batteries for an off-grid system, try asking my neighbour Lawrence Buchan 077 37308766.  He has some nice Yuasa endurance batteries in 6-V blocks, 100Ah and 160 Ah sizes.

Posted in products/technical, UK small wind scene | 8 Comments

Operation of school wind turbines suspended in Highland Region.

Posted on 12/05/2012 by hugh

Following enquiries from councillors and members of the public, The Highland Council commissioned the Building Research Establishment, an independent organisation, to evaluate all wind turbine installations on or adjacent to school sites. Based on initial feedback from BRE, the Council … Continue reading →

Posted in UK small wind scene | 2 Comments

WindTracker – for Small Scale Wind Turbines

Posted on 07/04/2012 by hugh

Logic Energy have brought out a low cost but decent quality datalogger for wind. This logger simply gives you the basic info that you need which is the windspeed distribution – how many hours the wind has blown at each … Continue reading →

Posted in products/technical, UK small wind scene, wind systems tutorial | 5 Comments

Servicing the 6kW Proven on Scoraig

Posted on 02/03/2012 by hugh

I have just done a service on our local Proven 6kW (aka Proven 11, aka Kingspan Wind KW6) at the Council’s School here on Scoraig.  First time it has been taken down since 2006.  Installed in 2003 by Sangsters. Nothing … Continue reading →

Posted in my own projects, products/technical, Scoraig, UK small wind scene | 59 Comments

Engineers Without Borders conference small wind session video

Posted on 31/01/2012 by hugh

I went to Birmingham on 28th to meet EWB and to share experiences about using small wind turbines for international development work (and for having fun).  Lots of good chat.  This was the launch of their national small wind community … Continue reading →

Posted in developing world, People, UK small wind scene, Video links | 1 Comment

Ampair require 3-5 engineering apprentices

Posted on 12/12/2011 by hugh

JOB VACANCY Ampair is recruiting 3-5 apprentices to join an expanding renewable energy manufacturing business. This role is as electromechanical production engineering apprentice manufacturing components and assemblies for small to medium sized wind & hydro turbine systems, and electrical equipment. … Continue reading →

Posted in Notices, People, UK small wind scene | Leave a comment

Gordon Proven

Posted on 07/12/2011 by hugh

I’d like to remember Gordon Proven, the brilliant inventor, and creator of Proven Energy.  I only seem to have this one photo of Gordon from the early 1990s in his old factory in Kilmarnock.    Gordon built a really heavy … Continue reading →

Posted in People, UK small wind scene | 14 Comments

Kestrel e400i wind turbine on Scoraig

Posted on 13/11/2011 by hugh

It’s time I mentioned the Kestrel e400i that will celebrate its first year of trouble free operation here on Scoraig in January 2012.  It’s installed at the Dome on a tower that was originally used to test the prototype Proven … Continue reading →

Posted in Scoraig, UK small wind scene | 35 Comments

Proven reborn “Unfortunately it seems likely that Proven’s new owners will not be obliged to honour its guarantees”

Posted on 14/10/2011 by hugh

source Receivers KPMG  said it had now sold the business and its assets to Kingspan Renewables. The receivers said the successful sale not only safeguarded the jobs of 20 Proven Energy staff but provided an opportunity for continued manufacturing at … Continue reading →

Posted in UK small wind scene, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Modular build turbines immune to company collapse?

Posted on 27/09/2011 by hugh

Siverford blog is always quite an interesting site for perspective on the small wind industry with an emphasis on the merits of the Gaia wind turbine (of which I have been a big fan for many years). In a recent … Continue reading →

Posted in UK small wind scene | 4 Comments