Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Feed in Tariff (FIT)?
The Feed in Tariff (FIT) is a Government initiative to encourage the uptake of local renewable energy schemes that was introduced in April 2010. It offers a set price for the electricity produced from sustainable sources such as wind, hydro and solar power technologies. For further details see our page on FIT or the Department for Energy and Climate Change.
What income could I receive from a wind turbine on my land?
The payments you receive will be a set percentage of the gross revenue from the wind turbine (consisting of generation payments under the FIT and sale of electricity to the grid). Generally, the windier your site, the higher the revenue will be. Please contact us directly with details of your site and we will be able to give you an initial estimate of likely revenues you can expect to receive.
Are there any hidden catches?
There is no catch. If we are successful in the process, income is generated from selling the electricity produced by the wind turbine, and you as the landowner will benefit from the revenues that the turbine produces. You may also have the option of buying discounted electricity. A successful project outcome therefore benefits both parties and enables us to work with landowners on a risk free basis.
Will I make more money if I develop a wind turbine myself?
Potentially, but there would be more risk and you would need to provide significant capital investment. There are no guarantees of a successful planning outcome and the capital outlay for the project is typically well in excess of half a million pounds; moreover, large amounts of time and money can be wasted in planning fees and development costs. Specialist skills are required throughout the whole process of planning, construction and operation, as well as the time required to manage the project throughout its lifetime.
How do you pay for the wind turbine?
We are fully financed and backed by companies with a proven track record of financing, installing and operating wind turbines. We can give you further details on how the financing works should you wish to progress with us.
Can I still farm my land?
Yes. Normal farming activities can continue up to the base of the wind turbine. The actual turbine development requires only a small amount of land, typically one tenth of an acre.
Can you use smaller wind turbines?
Smaller wind turbines produce less electricity which makes it more difficult to justify the risk we take with the money required to obtain planning permission in relation to the overall return on the project. We believe the size of turbine proposed is a good balance between the amount of electricity generated and size; sitting comfortably in most landscapes. The wind turbines we use are less than half the size of modern commercial turbines, which are typically around 120-130m in height.
What rights do you have over my land?
We enter into an agreement with you called an ‘Option’. This ‘Option’ enables us to take a lease over the area of land required for the turbine should the project achieve planning permission. If planning permission is not successful then the ‘Option’ will expire after 2 years and we will no longer have any right to enter into any land lease with you. This way we do not need to take a lease on your land in the event of an unsuccessful planning application.
Are there any other financial benefits of your offer?
In addition to benefiting from a percentage of any revenue produced by the operational wind turbine, you will also receive an option fee for entering into an agreement with us (payable whether or not the project is successful) and we will also pay any reasonable legal costs you incur as a result of finalising the land option/lease with us.
Are wind turbines noisy?
Modern wind turbines are extremely quiet. We carry out comprehensive noise modelling of all our projects to ensure there is no nuisance to local residents. A normal conversation can be had right beneath a wind turbine without raising your voice.
What about shadow flicker?
The concept of shadow flicker, or the shadow created when the sun is directly behind the blades, can be an issue for poorly designed projects. However, the positioning of the wind turbine is considered at an early stage to ensure shadow flicker is not an issue with the projects we develop.
What funds will I need?
None. One Wind Renewables and our partners will fund all costs of developing, purchasing, building and operating the wind turbine. There will even be a payment to you for signing an Option with us, even if the project is not successful.
How long will it take?
Once you decide to progress a project with us it should take between 6-12 months to achieve a planning outcome; should this be successful, the turbine procurement, construction and connection to the grid will take a further 6-12 months.
Why is the lifetime of the project limited to 20-25 years?
The Government FIT provides a guaranteed price for electricity from our projects for the next 20 years, so we can be confident in predicting revenues during this time frame. However, wind turbines are generally regarded as having a generating lifespan of 25 years. Although after 20 years the electricity price is not guaranteed, the electricity produced will still have value on the open market; if projected energy prices are correct, the open market electricity price in 20 years time could well be in excess of the FIT price. After 20 years you will still benefit from the revenue produced from the wind turbine although we cannot guarantee what this will be at this moment in time.
Who will own the wind Turbine?
The wind turbine will be owned by One Wind Renewables and its partners. We will be responsible for any maintenance and servicing costs incurred over its lifetime.
Will I be helping the environment if I have a wind turbine?
Yes, definitely. The energy produced from the wind turbine is clean, renewable and will never run out, unlike electricity generated from fossil fuels such as coal and oil which release harmful and polluting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The electricity produced from the wind turbine will help to offset these pollutants produced from burning fossil fuels and will therefore help in the fight against climate change. A typical 330kW turbine will produce roughly the same amount of electricity per annum as is used by 180 average homes.
I like the idea of your proposal, what should I do next?
Please get in touch - either call, send an e-mail or drop us a letter and we will be happy to talk you through the process and answer any further questions you may have. If you own land you think may be suitable and you would like us to carry out a free, no obligation assessment then please fill out our landowner contact form or email us and we will get back to you.
The Feed in Tariff (FIT) is a Government initiative to encourage the uptake of local renewable energy schemes that was introduced in April 2010. It offers a set price for the electricity produced from sustainable sources such as wind, hydro and solar power technologies. For further details see our page on FIT or the Department for Energy and Climate Change.
What income could I receive from a wind turbine on my land?
The payments you receive will be a set percentage of the gross revenue from the wind turbine (consisting of generation payments under the FIT and sale of electricity to the grid). Generally, the windier your site, the higher the revenue will be. Please contact us directly with details of your site and we will be able to give you an initial estimate of likely revenues you can expect to receive.
Are there any hidden catches?
There is no catch. If we are successful in the process, income is generated from selling the electricity produced by the wind turbine, and you as the landowner will benefit from the revenues that the turbine produces. You may also have the option of buying discounted electricity. A successful project outcome therefore benefits both parties and enables us to work with landowners on a risk free basis.
Will I make more money if I develop a wind turbine myself?
Potentially, but there would be more risk and you would need to provide significant capital investment. There are no guarantees of a successful planning outcome and the capital outlay for the project is typically well in excess of half a million pounds; moreover, large amounts of time and money can be wasted in planning fees and development costs. Specialist skills are required throughout the whole process of planning, construction and operation, as well as the time required to manage the project throughout its lifetime.
How do you pay for the wind turbine?
We are fully financed and backed by companies with a proven track record of financing, installing and operating wind turbines. We can give you further details on how the financing works should you wish to progress with us.
Can I still farm my land?
Yes. Normal farming activities can continue up to the base of the wind turbine. The actual turbine development requires only a small amount of land, typically one tenth of an acre.
Can you use smaller wind turbines?
Smaller wind turbines produce less electricity which makes it more difficult to justify the risk we take with the money required to obtain planning permission in relation to the overall return on the project. We believe the size of turbine proposed is a good balance between the amount of electricity generated and size; sitting comfortably in most landscapes. The wind turbines we use are less than half the size of modern commercial turbines, which are typically around 120-130m in height.
What rights do you have over my land?
We enter into an agreement with you called an ‘Option’. This ‘Option’ enables us to take a lease over the area of land required for the turbine should the project achieve planning permission. If planning permission is not successful then the ‘Option’ will expire after 2 years and we will no longer have any right to enter into any land lease with you. This way we do not need to take a lease on your land in the event of an unsuccessful planning application.
Are there any other financial benefits of your offer?
In addition to benefiting from a percentage of any revenue produced by the operational wind turbine, you will also receive an option fee for entering into an agreement with us (payable whether or not the project is successful) and we will also pay any reasonable legal costs you incur as a result of finalising the land option/lease with us.
Are wind turbines noisy?
Modern wind turbines are extremely quiet. We carry out comprehensive noise modelling of all our projects to ensure there is no nuisance to local residents. A normal conversation can be had right beneath a wind turbine without raising your voice.
What about shadow flicker?
The concept of shadow flicker, or the shadow created when the sun is directly behind the blades, can be an issue for poorly designed projects. However, the positioning of the wind turbine is considered at an early stage to ensure shadow flicker is not an issue with the projects we develop.
What funds will I need?
None. One Wind Renewables and our partners will fund all costs of developing, purchasing, building and operating the wind turbine. There will even be a payment to you for signing an Option with us, even if the project is not successful.
How long will it take?
Once you decide to progress a project with us it should take between 6-12 months to achieve a planning outcome; should this be successful, the turbine procurement, construction and connection to the grid will take a further 6-12 months.
Why is the lifetime of the project limited to 20-25 years?
The Government FIT provides a guaranteed price for electricity from our projects for the next 20 years, so we can be confident in predicting revenues during this time frame. However, wind turbines are generally regarded as having a generating lifespan of 25 years. Although after 20 years the electricity price is not guaranteed, the electricity produced will still have value on the open market; if projected energy prices are correct, the open market electricity price in 20 years time could well be in excess of the FIT price. After 20 years you will still benefit from the revenue produced from the wind turbine although we cannot guarantee what this will be at this moment in time.
Who will own the wind Turbine?
The wind turbine will be owned by One Wind Renewables and its partners. We will be responsible for any maintenance and servicing costs incurred over its lifetime.
Will I be helping the environment if I have a wind turbine?
Yes, definitely. The energy produced from the wind turbine is clean, renewable and will never run out, unlike electricity generated from fossil fuels such as coal and oil which release harmful and polluting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The electricity produced from the wind turbine will help to offset these pollutants produced from burning fossil fuels and will therefore help in the fight against climate change. A typical 330kW turbine will produce roughly the same amount of electricity per annum as is used by 180 average homes.
I like the idea of your proposal, what should I do next?
Please get in touch - either call, send an e-mail or drop us a letter and we will be happy to talk you through the process and answer any further questions you may have. If you own land you think may be suitable and you would like us to carry out a free, no obligation assessment then please fill out our landowner contact form or email us and we will get back to you.
