FIVE years ago ex-army engineer, Alan Cameron, installed wind and solar power on his 36ft river cruiser, today he’s taking a raft of orders for Coemi wind turbines from Yorkshire, through Scotland, to the Hebridean Isle of Coll.
After the launch of feed-in-tariffs (FITS) in April installers of green technology are paid for the energy they produce and buying a super-efficient Skywing turbine has become a golden opportunity in the green revolution.
Alan, aged 51, of Leeds, said: "A Coemi Skywing is not only about being environmentally-friendly; it makes good economic sense because some turbines pay for themselves in under three years and the North East is a perfect area with a steady, strong wind.
"I no longer chase sales because I’m taking orders, especially from farmers because farming wind pays and other businesses are keen to cut costs along with their carbon footprint.
"Coemi turbines can be put up with a hydraulic lift in minutes and be monitored remotely. FITs pays green producers around 24p per kilowatt hour of power produced. These payouts are index-linked over the next 20 years, however, there is a limit to numbers and this has proved so popular in Denmark and Germany that capacity has been reached and the same will happen here."
As well as showing clients the benefits of Coemi’s hi-tech wind power Alan guides them all the way through the maze of planning applications until the turbine is installed and beyond.
Customers include farmer Colin Kennedy on the Isle of Coll who is set to put up a 50kw Coemi Skywing, costing £166,000 and which should pay for itself in just under three years.
Aberdeenshire farmer, Eric Much, is planning a 50kw turbine on his cattle farm to cut costs and reap FITS as is livestock farmer, Julie Houseman of Harrogate who wants a £70,000, 20kw Coemi, will re-pay her in less than six years.
On the banks of the River Tyne a steel fabrication factory is planning to install two, 20kw Coemi turbines to cut its power usage by a massive 70 per cent.
Coemi Managing Director, Paul Young, said: "Alan’s electrical and civil engineering background means he knows where Skywings should work. He’s an expert in Coemi technology and able to guide clients from start to finish."
The Skywing is the very latest in computer-controlled wind turbine design and despite their compact size and ultra-quiet operation compare favourably with giant turbines.
Skywings cost from £39,000 and range from 12-to-18 metres high, offering outputs of 10kw to 50kw
Paul added: "Farmers have harnessed the wind since the 12th Century, to mill grain, pump water and saw wood but for 21st Century farmers wind will play a more important role as they face rising diesel costs, battles over pricing, changing weather and a growing population.
"There’s no other compact turbine as efficient as Skywing or that can be put up in minutes and along with a state-of-the art computer at the helm they can remotely serviced.
"Skywings are the product of a world-wide technical team and designed to pay for themselves in five years – which is as long as our guarantee lasts."
