Abstract Microgeneration using roof-top wind turbines is at present not common in New Zealand. It is, however, being trialled by the electricity network company, Vector, in a range of urban locations. Limitations of size mean roof-top wind turbines may not satisfy the total energy requirement of New Zealand houses. Ensuring structural stability and complying with stringent noise standards in New Zealand are further issues. In addition, roof-top turbines may be inefficient in terms of net energy and carbon emissions, performance indicators that are fundamental for the adoption of this technology. This paper considers the feasibility of using roof-top wind turbines in urban houses in New Zealand and, using life cycle assessment, evaluates the net energy and carbon emissions associated with their use. The results indicate that the electricity-generating potential of centralised wind farms in New Zealand using large turbines is 11.3–7 times the generating potential of roof-top turbines mounted on urban houses. In spite of this the roof-top turbines that are currently being trialled, could have the potential to reduce the energy and carbon intensity of New Zealand electricity by 81% and 26%, respectively.
[1]
C. Pritchard,et al.
European Wind Energy Conference
,
2002
.
[2]
Gareth Harrison,et al.
Energy and carbon audit of a rooftop wind turbine
,
2006
.
[3]
Antonio Aguilo-Rullan,et al.
Micro-wind Turbines in Urban Environments: An Assessment
,
2010
.
[4]
Patrick James,et al.
Urban energy generation: Influence of micro-wind turbine output on electricity consumption in buildings
,
2007
.
[5]
David Jenkins,et al.
Micro wind turbines in the UK domestic sector
,
2008
.
[6]
J. Munksgaard,et al.
Energy and CO2 life-cycle analyses of wind turbines—review and applications
,
2002
.
[7]
S. Mertens,et al.
The Energy Yield of Roof Mounted Wind Turbines
,
2003
.
[8]
Simon J. Watson,et al.
Estimating the potential yield of small building‐mounted wind turbines
,
2007
.