In the UK, the first commercial wind farm was built in 1991, according to the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA). However, wind energy has been used in the production and processing of food for centuries. In the past it was used for milling and pumping water. Today the food and grocery industry in the UK predominantly uses wind to generate electricity.

How does wind power work?

Wind contains kinetic energy which can be used to make electricity, by wind turbines.

The wind is a clean and sustainable fuel source, as it does not create emissions and will not run out.

Different types of wind plants

There are several sizes and different types of wind turbines, as seen below:

	Diagram of Wind Turbines:

	(Source: American wind energy association)

Micro Wind Turbine:

Capacity: Starting from 1kW
Diameter: 1-11m metres (except vertical axis wind turbines)
Tower height: 6-12m
Location: Roof-mounted or freestanding
Costs: At least £1,500 (1kW turbine); £6,500-£20,000 (2.5-6kW turbine)
Use: Private households and small companies
Benefit: About 30% save on an average household electricity bill (1kW turbine)
1.5kW turbine will produce an average 3,942 kWh per year, saving 3,390 Kg of CO2 emissions each year.

Average Wind Turbine:

Capacity: About 1.5-3MW
Diameter: ~60-80m
Tower height: ~60-80m
Location: Onshore (freestanding)
Costs: About £750,000
Use: Private investors and electricity companies
Benefit: Energy supply for about 1,000 average UK households

Large Wind Turbine:

Capacity: Up to 5MW with an average annual production of 17.5 million kWh
Diameter: ~120m
Tower height: ~160m
Location: Offshore
Costs: About £12,000,000
Use: Electricity companies
Benefit: Energy supply for about 5,000 average UK households

(Sources: BWEA, Energy Savings Trust and Carbon Trust)

Why use it?

There are many reasons to use wind energy

The UK government has set a target for 10% of electricity supply to be from renewable energy by 2010
The UK has the highest wind energy potential in the EU, while the degree of utilisation is far below average
Using a decentralised power plant with a renewable energy source creates independence from rising electricity prices
Wind energy is a clean (no carbon dioxide emissions), sustainable and secure source of energy
Wind energy is an example of how to use renewable opportunities in a fast moving and changing world with great upcoming challenges concerning sustainability and energy security

Who is using it?

Some retailers and manufacturers in the UK are using wind energy.


	Tesco - Vertical axis wind turbine Location: Newton Avcliffe

Tesco:

Successful test of a vertical axis wind turbine (noise free and safe at high wind speeds) with an annual electricity production of 5,300kWh (average use of 1.5 UK households) in Newton Aycliffe
27 turbines have been consented on 24 further sites with suitable turbines (from 1kW roof-mounted to 2MW freestanding models)
Tesco considered several factors like wind speed, environmental impacts (landscape, noise, wildlife) and proximity to local residents

Read IGD's case study on Tesco’s vertical axis wind turbines

Waitrose/ John Lewis:

Waitrose installed wind turbines at the Leckford estate, which are used to harness energy for rearing free-range poultry
Plans to incorporate renewable energy into new building designs
All of the Partnership's electricity now comes from fully green sources


	Sainsbury's - Dartmouth store Source: Sainsbury's


	McCains - Whittlesey horizontal wind turbine Source: McCains

Sainsbury’s:

New flagship green store opened in Dartmouth, Devon uses quiet vertical axis wind turbines to power the checkouts
This Project reduces the electricity dependence by a third
Overall target to reduce CO2 emissions per square metre by 25% by 2012

Read IGD's case study on Sainsbury’s new flagship store

McCains

First major UK food plant to be powered mainly by wind.
Three 125-metre turbines save over 27,000 megawatt hours annually – enough to power around 6,000 homes.
At times, they’ll generate over 100% of the plant’s needs – and will supply the excess to the National Grid.
Site power requirement is 43,100MWh/yr

Read IGD's case study on McCain's renewable energy project here