Truthfully, I’ve been concerned about the sustainability of life since I was a kid.
In the early 90’s I was living on a hill, in an ex military vehicle I called home, using a small windmill to power the lights and stuff. I’d spent the previous ten years or so living ‘on the road’ searching for an alternative way to live. I was what the media would call a ‘new age traveller’.
That’s when I was inspired to ‘drop in’ and promote the use of large-scale wind energy – to bring change to the electricity industry. That was the start of this long journey.
The idea for Ecotricity - of selling green electricity to people, came about a few years later – it was about getting a fair price for wind power, to enable more to be built. And so Ecotricity started in 1995. Green electricity was a totally new idea back then. It just didn’t exist, as a choice, before Ecotricity.
I built my first windmill in 96 after a five year battle with all comers – NIMBY’s, bigots, planners, big power companies, you name it - and went to Kyoto in 97. The rest is just more history.
I’m after change, by empowering people to bring it about themselves. The idea for example, that you can fight Climate Change with your electricity bill, use your need for electricity to bring about new clean sources of it – sustainable ones.
It’s not such a novel idea these days - that we can influence the way the world works, through the way we spend our money. Fairtrade is a great recent example.
So that’s it really, I’m a hippie, I run a business (a social enterprise) to bring change to the world. My interest is the next Industrial Revolution, how to live without burning up the planet.
Yeah! Good for you! (from one modern hippy to another) We need more people like you.
I have just signed up to Ecotricity today after seeing a link on NigelsEcoStore.co.uk. It took me all of about 3 minutes! Couldn’t be easier. Thanks.
I’ve got to pay Npower for my previous electr. bill- £247.45, a bill I don’t enjoy paying. Now I reckon, it will actually make a small difference paying this bill and will not mind less paying my bill, win,win all round. I don’t even mind if Ecotricity will cost me slightly more (i don’t know this yet, time will tell)
I hope your customer service is such that it continues to remind me that I have made a good choice, and appreciates me for making a green choice, the little things help!
Jelle
Dale
I am the trustee for a rainforest charity, aimed at educating children about conservation as well as land purchase in red areas of tropical forests around the world.
We are small and about to relaunch our website with new features and a modern (web 2.0) approach.
Would you mind getting in touch as it would be fantastic if you would write an article for us on renewables for our relaunch.
Many thanks and look forward to hearing from you.
Rob
Hi Rob,
Thanks for the comment - I will be in touch about this shortly…
Thanks
Paul
Hi Dale, I left a comment a week or so ago about an innovations group I had been involved in with BP. It was to do with petrol stations of the future you might remember. I also mentioned that the way the innovations group dynamic works is by a meeting of minds that have the belief that anything is possible.
At the moment the company I freelance for tends to attract clients like BP, Nestle, Vodafone etc. However, I feel there is potential for a new collective, focused solely on sustainable future ideas.
One that is very much aligned with your own ZeroCarbon vision.
If you would consider meeting with me in Stroud, I can explain more about the idea and how it could work.
Regards, John
Dale,
During the last several years I have developed some wind energy innovations that can significantly improve the efficiency of conventional turbines. As an independant inventor it can be tough to break into the commercial market. Perhaps there can be a mutually beneficial arrangement that can be reached between us or a manufacturer/distributor that you can refer to me, . These innovations are at the earliest stage but their avantages are obvious. Anyone reading this post that can offer a reccomendation or suggestion it would be greatly appreciated………..Andrew
Well first off Andrew i would suggest you get a website up describing what your product/innovation can do. Why its unique or better than anything else in the market place. Hope this helps
Thanks
Nick
Hi Andrew, thanks for getting in touch, I’d be happy to discuss with you and help in some way if I can. Always interested to hear about possible new innovations in wind energy. Cheers.
Your blog has been blogged…!!! Awesome work. ~Christine
I had no knowledge of your organisation until the weekend when I travelled through Norfolk and saw those beautiful turbines and decided to look you up on the web.
I wish you every success in this venture - the planet needs more people like you.
Thanks Stitch.
Dale,
On July 31st I sent Helen Johnson some files of some of my wind energy innovations. Paul had suggested that she was the proper person to email. Let me know if you have viewed them and what you think. In my humble opinion, it would be great to see you be able to significantly increase your wind farm output at a relatively low cost.
I was just looking at the Guardian’s story that you link to from the Ecotricity website. It quotes Dale saying what is wrong about the 100% renewable energy but there is nothing there explicitly about what is right with Ecotricity. Was Dale edited or did he neglect to mention that Ecotricity build the most new renewable energy source per customer? I’m inclined to think the former.
Also, just idly wondering as I got back from Greenbelt festival earlier this week: Could Ecotricity have a bigger presence there, other than on Christian Aid leaflets? Perhaps you could do a talk there or at least have a stall there. Anyway, if you do you’ll have to wait till next August…
Regards, Jeff
Thanks Jeff, you guessed it correctly, I was edited. Even the Guardian does that… I’ll pass your Greenbelt comments on to our event team, make sure it’s on their list for next year. Cheers.
you should hire betcee may
she’s going to sell 1 million teslas!
Well done Dale. You got off your backside and got properly stuck-in to something that truly make a difference. You have my greatest respect and admiration.
What I love about Ecotricity is that it empowers every person in the UK to buy 100% renewable electricity. It’s given people choice. Every person can now put their money where their mouth is.
Thank you.
Thanks Jake, I appreciate that.
My partner and I run a firm on Eco-architects in Stroud, Gordon Clarke Architects Ltd. We are business and personal consumers of Ecotricity which we think is great - thanks!
We would consider buying an electric car, but feel that there should be a network of charge-up points around the country for people to charge up on the street maybe like a parking meter. Have ecotricity thought of setting up a network like this to sell electricity to car users?
We have lots of great eco-ideas about buildings too. Give us a call on 01453 751007 if anyone wishes to discuss further.
Thanks again
Hi Julie, we’ve definitely thought of a network of charging points, right now we’re weighing up options - we would love to offer wind powered charging for EVs. We’ve a chance as well with a series of windmills we’re hoping to build along major transport corridors. Will update on this site once we have a bit of a plan we can talk about.
Cheers.
So watch this space…
Dale,
Not directly associated with any of the above.
May I invite Ecotricity to take part in the second Stroud Festival of Nature, Stratford Park, Sat/Sun 18/19 July. Twenty regional organizations attended this years. Looking to double that and more next year and run it in a seperate zone from the Stroud Show, on which it piggy backed this year. Want to cover as many aspects of nature (conservation, sustainability, energy, carbon footprint, access to countryside, etc, etc) as possible. There will be an emphasis on education. Also looking for sponsors.
Looking forward to hearing from you in due course.
Steve Roberts
Big Classroom
Member of the Design Co-operative, Stroud
Tel 01453 753123
Hi Steve, thanks for the invite, sounds like a very worthwhile event you’re planning. I’ve passed this to our guys who do events, am sure they’ll want to come along. Cheers.
Hello
On the day we have all found ourselves relieved of our own money to bail out the banks, part of me is, of course, happy that they will still be able to pay their private school fees and other pressing overheads, but another part is hoping that this vortex, or meltdown, or whatever it is, will allow a few holes into the grid of conventional economic thinking. Maybe then people like you, and the TRansition Towns movement, and the World Social Forum, may be taken seriously at last by the respectable world. I myself am marooned in a (very happy) family who, for some incomprehensible reason, have not yet been willing to move from their comfy home in Camden Town to a yurt in a wood, but I’m hoping even they may be forced by circumstances to come round. Meanwhile I write Mrs Normal Saves the World for other people like me - normal people with normal responsibilities who still find the odd moment to try to make things better. Thanks for the inspiration (and the ecotricity account - friendliest bill I think I’ve ever had). X Sheila Hayman
(www.mrsnormal.com)
Dale
I have accidentally stumbled into your world by driving past one of your windmills on the way to Legoland the other day (Reading area). I am very impressed. You have a vision and are prepared to do something about it. I feel I would enjoy working for you, in fact I’m gonna send you my CV !!
Cheers
Andy
Thanks Sheila, it’s a big encouragement to hear this. I’m also hoping that conventional thinking may take a big knock through this recent turmoil. Capitalism, at least the unfettered kind, has definitely taken flak, I know where you’re coming from. A yurt in the woods sounds great (that’s the hippy in me) but don’t be hard on yourself - it’s going to take the ‘normal’ people of this world to make the change we need to see. Thanks again. Cheers.
Thanks Andy. Happy to receive your CV. Cheers.
Hi Dale,
since you’re dealing with change, energy and sustainable future, I wanted to point you to a news about a video Greenpeace has just launched on YouTube to co-incide with their latest report “Energy [R]evolution: A Sustainable World Energy Outlook?”, produced by the European Renewable Energy Council, which provides a practical blueprint for rapidly cutting energy-related CO2.
The video features JFK arguing that “climate change threatens our very existence. Now is the time for an energy revolution.” Of course, JFK never said it, but the video went through a very good montage and a computer-generated process to achieve this.
The video can be seen at the following address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8dLHZ6jKFc
Their report can be found here: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/energy-revolution-now271008
Hi Dale,
I am so glad that you are looking into building windmills along transport corridors as you mention in one of your replies above.
So often the biggest excuse for not building wind turbines is that they are blot on the landscape. So the obvious solution in my view is (wind conditions permitting) site them where there is already a blot on the landscape. Along motorway corridors, beside electricity pylons and so on.
I would love to know more about this plan when it is possible for you to reveal more.
Congratulations on your success and for inspiring us all to run a business and do good at the same time.
Best wishes,
Khalifa
Hi Dale,
I work as the mechanical design coordinator to retrofit a 1500mw coal-fired powerplant with emissions control equipment here in the US. Your challenge to install a wind turbine on an automobile intrigues me as I have been telling the boys I work with about designing something like this for almost two years. Every time I bring up this conversation at the lunch table, I get laughed at by all the other engineers I work with. I’m assuming that you will not be able to be run the car entirely on wind, but I’m very curious about any additional efficiency that the wind turbine will add. My idea of this kind of car goes well beyond just wind. There are other efficiencies that I would add to this in addition to just wind.
But, on all your videos, you have not made any mention to the addition of the wind turbine itself?? Up until this point, it just looks like you’re building an all electric supercar. Are you just keeping us in suspense?
If you make this car a success, I will proudly display your video to all my nay-saying co-workers!!
Best of luck with your project. I hope for the best and truly wish I was there to help!
Hey there,
Thanks for getting back to me. Yes, our Solio competition is open to all. However, it’s over this Friday and we’ll be selecting the winner over the weekend. If you want to give it a go, we would love it. Good luck. Here’s the link.http://www.modernecohomes.com/blog/eco-friendly/solio-charger-eco-tips-competition/
I’ve just arrived here from an italian car’s blog, and I am really surprised. As an spanish computer science engineer, I love new tech gadgets and I take care about our world. At same time, I love cars… but I know that it’s time to change; this world cannot continue damaging itself!
A week ago I told my girlfriend that I didn’t understand why electric car were taking advantage of regenerative brakes but not from air resistance at cruising speed!! Without technical arguments I suppose that going over 80mph air resistance is strong enough to charge batteries; at least a %… And I found this website!
Good luck from Spain!!!
Thanks Khalifa.
Thanks Joe, the windmills that will power our car won’t be fitted to it, they will be connected to the grid, from which we will charge the car. It’s actually the best way to couple wind energy and cars - both in terms of engineering (cars and windmills don’t mix well), efficiency (the best winds are not where the roads are) and cost (for both of the previous reasons). Cheers.
Good stuff, Dale!
We’ve got our work cut out for us, but there is some good news in these difficult economic times. US electricity consumption took a dive in September. See details at:
http://setenergy.org/2008/12/15/electricity-use-falls-a-huge-5-in-september/
We just have to keep emissions falling when the economy rebounds by deploying more of your wind farms.
If you find the Sustainable Energy Transition (SET) daily blog on major energy and climate developments useful at http://www.setenergy.org , please consider adding it to your blogroll.
Onwards to sustainability,
Dennis
Hi Dale,
Like others, I stumbled on this website ,and I keep nipping back to read more.
I saw the article in various publications about the Severn Barrage proposals, and I decided to find out who you were. I have to be completely honest at this point. I think that what went into print about that, as your view, was unbelievably irresponsible and naive. Ok.. that’s a big call because I’m just this bloke from Stourport who works in an advice centre, and you have done a lot of really good stuff by the looks of it, but you also strike me as somebody who works out the right answers, so I’ll nail my colours to the mast.. I stand by that view. I think the opinions expressed in the media a couple of days ago were …well…as I said.
I really didn’t want to like what I found on your website, but I have to be honest, I think it’s top quality. I would like to think we could actually enter into a dialogue about barrage technologies, and see where the evidence really does point, because I also went through Turning the tide as my starting point, and I dismissed it as inadequate and misleading.
It’s a great resource,and I would love to see it used responsibly.
Respect
neil
Dale,
Wish you all the success in the world pushing through with your ideas for Tricorn House. I know what it’s like trying to be innovative in Stroud. I am a Director of Capel MIll Dev Co Ltd which has been working to develop an iconic, imaginative, sustainable, visitor centre/ educational resource/social enterprise hub at Capel Mill below Waitrose for some years now. The town and the district needs people with your kind of vision. Good luck!
Hi Dale,
I have been following your company and you (via your blog and through the press I may add) for a while now. I am very inspired by your ability to drive and motivate your ideas.
I am a (relatively) young entrepreneur I am looking for someone to mentor me, to help me work out how to realise some of my own grand ideas. I guess you have a lot on and are probably too busy to do such a thing, but no harm in asking.
Cheers
Paul
Hello Dale,
How you keeping? I just wanted to drop on here to say you are my role model at this point in time. About a year ago I started thinking a bit differently about climate change etc and thought “What if i could start a green company selling electricity?”. Well I eventually found out you had the exact same thought as me only you had it way before.
My grand plan was to set up wind turbines all along the west coast of Ireland (yes, I know, its not easy to set this up but I have time on my side, still in college) and have the project finance itself by ploughing all profits back in. Just like yours it seems. My hopes of being the first to do this were dashed when i read the article about you in the Times. Not that it was a bad thing. So now my plan is to setup a company like yours in Ireland.
I’m very passionate about green energy and I think being in a construction/engineering college can help me achieve my goal. I have thousands of the right books around. But is there any tips you could give at this point in time now that I’m just starting? Any particular books that could help me on the way? Would really appreciate the help.
Thanks,
Paul C
Dale
I called your company just before Christmas wanting to sign up to ecotricity but on an economy 10 basis, the guy said he’d get back to me but he never did! I’ve recently built a house on Gower, South Wales, it’s considered a bit of an eco house and is due to be featured on the next series of ‘It’s not easy being green’. My problem is - the house has an air source heat pump with underfloor heating, but to make the house carbon neutral I need ecotricity. Although my system will work using full tariff electricity I need economy 10 to make it worth while, I’m told that you don’t do this yet, can you and when is my question? I’m planning to go full on into building new carbon neutral houses if your interested in discussing it further, it all sounds good in theory but isn’t that easy to achieve in reality, given our moist windy climate etc.
Not sure how I found your site here, but glad I did.
Sustainable energy production and sustaianable transportation are coming together in amazing ways.
Witness the many companies getting involved with electric vehicle recharging stations powered by wind and solar. See
http://EVtransPortal.com/cerip.html for examples.
Thanks for being part of the solution Dale.
EVtransPortal is a nonprofit organization devoted to helping people find sustainable transportation through electric drive vehicles.
We are working to help the renewable energy industry find partners with electric transport developers and providers.
Hi Kristen, sorry I think we missed the deadline. Hope it all went well. Cheers.
Hi Dennis Keep up the good work - we *will* get there
Added SET to the blogroll - feel free to do the same with Zerocarbonista
Thanks Neil. My big focus is on harnessing a large generation scheme (like the barrage) for the public good - in this case to eradicate fuel poverty and save us all Billions paid to the big six each year in the current futile attempt to do so.
My starting proposition is ‘if’ the barrage is a good idea - here’s a way to make it work better. The concept works equally well for a tidal stream scheme, or reef - even offshore windpower.
My focus is on the economic side, government becoming a generator again, cutting out the middlemen and bringing long term sustainable benefits to society. I think some of this was lost in the press story, but my post starts out clearly enough, there are pros and cons, but just assume it should be done for a minute and consider how it’s done - that’s my message. I appreciate your comments. Cheers.
Thanks Steve. Good luck with Capel Mill.
Hi Paul, thanks for asking, but it’s as you guess, I am stretched pretty thin right now. You can by all means float your ideas here and seek advice, there’s a shed load of knowledge and expertise blogging here. Sorry I can’t offer more. Cheers.
Dale,
good blog :). Having followed your progress since seeing the Swaffham turbine go up I want to congratulate you on what you’ve done. I read the article on you in the Times at the weekend and it seems we share a number of ideas and character traits - both from norfolk, both startied as long haired hippies with a simple idea, and both still passionate and excited about sustainability.
I set up liftshare.com 10 years back having failed most of my exams in Bristol. We now have 300,000 members, take 40,000 cars off the road every day and save a fair bit of CO2.
I note that one of your areas of interest is transport and wondered if you had come across us or given thought to the 38 million empty car seats on UK roads every day and the huge potential they have to solve our transport issues.
I’m sure you have a heap of things coming across your desk every day but it would be great to have a chat.
If you have a moment to get back to me that’d be great,
Happy 2009
Ali
Are aliens or intelligent flying octopii interested in wind turbine technology? Why did they only take a blade?
Dale, that’s a good, measured response. As I have said elsewhere on this site, I think we have the same goal. And I know how the press tend to find the story they want in something which might have an entirely different meaning.
Thanks for the response.
Neil
Dear Dale,
We are an Architectural Practice in London, specialising in sustainable developments. Recently we have been working on a Government research paper to develop planning guidelines for sustainable suburbs. Our hypothesis for the study being that the infrastructure is fundamental to a truly sustainable community, and if an innovative, adaptable system is implemented from the start then good quality housing and new businesses will follow and communities will thrive. When we speak of infrastructure we include energy, transportation, water recycling, education and community facilities. Our intention is to create a collaborative network of public and private partners to deliver an infrastructure, which will allow communities to adapt and evolve as they grow.
We are planning to put together a team to prepare development proposals for various sites and we would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and run through our ideas in more detail. The proposals would benefit greatly from your input and we imagine that Ecotricity could be ideal partners for future developments.
We look forward to hearing from you
Jill Ingram Abbott
Type3 studio
Dear Dale,
We are the Innovation Centre team from University of Bath.
We are a new network established by the University of Bath to build an active community in this sector and establish impactful links between companies and universities. Low Carbon South West will make it easier for companies, entrepreneurs, investors and researchers to meet and exchange ideas and opportunities. The network will also provide a showcase for low carbon technology innovation.
We are currently creating our database (email, tel etc)to update everbody about the nesw and what we are doing. You are the one of the important names that we would love to keep in our database. You may be interested in coming or speaking to our students or researchers.
The best thing is that you dont have to go to London to do these things! Bath is a beautiful local city.
If you are interested in please let us know.
Look forward to hear from you.
Pinar
Love your blog! I was wondering if you would consider including mine in your list of links. It’s Zero Carbon City Gazette (http://zerocarboncitygazette.com). While this is an automated blog, it is totally non-commercial. My intent is to interest people in the potential of zero-carbon and to provide them with plenty of resources to study. I’ve listed your marvelous blog, and I hope you’ll list mine!
Thanks,
Roger
Dear Dale,
is your company Ecotricity purely a wind-based company and philosophy, or would you get behind another green-energy company that compliment Ecotricity (e.g. a solar PV venture ) ?
Phil
Hi Dale
Been following your blogs since discovering Ecotricity via the Sunday Times interview.
I am very interested in the electric car project. I proposed the use of an electric car in one of my Level 6 Fully Sustainable Dwelling projects but the planning officer gave the opinion that “ensuring an electric vehicle is always available would be onerous”. You are proving the opposite.
I would welcome your collaboration in developing energy efficient buildings and in particular your home turbine project for cities.
Best regards
Sean
Hi Dale,
I am a Brit expat stay at home Dad ex-hippy living in Bavaria, Germany. My main focus down here at the moment is growing my own food but I am getting into energy efficiency. Saw your article in the Sunday Times.
I have slightly hippyish roots - went on the hippy trail in Kathmandu and Manali and met my wife in Mongolia whilst staying in a ger or yurt there. I lived five years in the Arabian Gulf mapping coral reef habiats.
Will you add me to your list of blogs? I’m going to check up this site regularly now I’ve found you!
Hi Dale,
First of all thank you for your amazing vision!
It’s one of my favourite sayings ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’ and to see that someone is embodying it for everyone else …. well it doesn’t get much better than that!
It’s so amazing what we are called to do!
Namaste
Cathy
Hi Dale
I am a trustee of Stroud Court Community Trust at Minchinhampton where we look after about forty autistic adults. Stroud Court was established in 1982 in 17 acres adjoining Longfords Mill including some listed buildings. We now have to develop new buildings with much improved heat and light and sustainability.
We have advanced plans to develop partially underground pods to accomodate most of our residents. But work remains to be done on the choice of heating and other issues. We are in an AONB and very much interested lo learn whether we have any sustainability options open to us.
Your comments would be much appreciated.
Tony Bateson
Hi Dale
I think your company and its approach to sustainability is fantastic.
I would like to pass on some information to you which you may find useful in the development of the ’surface face’ of your turbine blades.
Last year I came upon a very interesting development in Canada where a study of the nodules on the tailfin of a humpback whale has led to it being applied to the leading edge surface of the blades on a wind turbine. The resultant effect was that the blades could be angled more steeply into the wind without the risk of turbulence or malfunction - the bottom line being that the turbine was able to increase its power output by up to 40%
Please see the attached link to site: http://www.whalepower.com/drupal/?q=node/1
I read on another site that tests from the Wind Energy Institute of Canada should be completed shortly.
Best Regards, Tommy Murphy
Derry, N. Ireland
Hi Jill
It’s hard to find the time for this to be honest, we just don’t have any spare right now
Hi Ali, thanks for this, we’d love to have a chat, looks like a good fit. I’ll ask someone here to contact you if that’s OK. Cheers.
Hi Paul, There are no books I can recommend and I have very few tips to offer, sorry to say. I can tell you that I think what you’ll need to succeed in this are guts and determination. And time. Should be easier to get this kind of thing off the ground now mind you, the times they have a changed somewhat. Good luck with your venture. Cheers.
——–
Hi John, sorry about this. We’ve had several enquiries about this and are keen to offer a tariff if we can help ground source in that way. It’s not as easy as it sounds though, to create a new tariff. This week I asked our IT guys to look at the system changes we’d need and our trading team to consider pricing structure - we def are looking at this. Would love to be able to provide a ground source heat pump friendly tariff, in fact I’m sure we will, just a matter of how quickly. Would also be happy to collaborate where we can. Hope that helps. Cheers.
Hi Pinar, sounds like good work you’re doing and good to see something not so ‘londoncentric’…….
Bath is a v nice place.
—————–
Thanks Roger, would be very happy to list your blog.
—————–
Hi Phil - we’re into all forms of deep green energy, that means energy made without combustion of anything (sun, wind, water) and we’re into energy use reduction too - two sides of the same coin to us - we need to use less and what we do use must come from truly sustainable sources - in a nutshell.
——————
Hi Sean, thanks for this. Our Urbine is still a year or so away from being ready I think. But come the day, assuming we get it to work well enough, would be happy to collaborate on that.
——————
Hi Jeremy, would be happy to.
——————
Hi Tony, off the top of my head I’d say options open to you, and worth exploring, would include ground source heat pumps and solar thermal - should not bother the planners too much. PV is always an option if cost doesn’t matter. Micro wind might work where you are, and will be far more economic than PV if so - and actually planners are pretty relaxed about that even in AONBs these days.
Cheers all.
Here’s a thought. The wood fires I burn all of course send smoke through my chimney. That of course is a current of hot air. Now is it possible to either:
1. Install a fireproof wind turbine inside the chimney to spin using the generated hot air or,
2. Perhaps fit a horizontal “Savionius” turbine on the top of the chimney which could use not only hot air from the fire but also any wind in the locality.
Has anyone thought about this? That’s a load of free moving hot air which is being wasted.
Jeremy - your idea is similar to this idea: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_chimney
I suspect that the natural convection in the chimney will be insufficient to drive a turbine and produce any useful amount of power at all without causing a big pressure drop and basically blocking the exhaust air flow..
You might be interested in these heat engines though:
http://www.score.uk.com/
http://www.thermofluidics.com/
Dave Howey
woops, wrong link, I meant this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_updraft_tower
Hello Jeremy,
I suspect that it would have to be a very big chimney, with a huge fire underneath, for it to generate the flow rate needed to produce meaningful quantities of electricity. The trouble is that a turbine within the flue would constitute a (partial) blockage and would thus impair the efficiency of the whole wood burning system. It might also be very difficult to keep it working in such a hostile environment - with soot and temperature as the primary impediments to smooth uninterrupted operation.
If anything is put in the way of the flow of emissions from a chimney it will cause smoke to hang about at a lower altitude than would otherwise be the case. Taking energy out of a system, be it kinetic or in the form of heat, has consequences. It is fairly usual to have a fan mounted on the chimney-pot which works on the Savonius principle but this is turned by the wind to generate an updraught in what would otherwise be a lazy flue; in effect the opposite of the system you propose.
In many respects a chimney is the ideal site for a Savonius turbine as it does not need to turn into the wind as a horizontal axis machine would. For power generation, Savonius turbines - from what I have read about them - tend to be used in a vertical axis orientation and work best in lower wind speeds and are self-starting. Darrieus vertical axis turbines are the better option for higher speeds and are more efficient but do not self-start. Not being affected by wind direction means that the proximity of the roof and other nearby building features is less of an issue with vertical axis turbines. However, the fact remains that the interruption to the airflow caused by such features of the locality will necessarily reduce operating efficiency. The only option would be to go higher - but that might cause planning problems and put more stress into the structure of the chimney.
With regard to your final paragraph, perhaps we should see the free moving hot air not as being wasted, but actually as part of the efficient working of a wood burning system.
Regards,
Jonny.
Hi Dale,
Just to remind you, this is lowcarbonsouthwest network team from The Innovation Centre, University of Bath.
Thank you for your reply. Please have a look what we are doing from the link below. We have got more coming!
Would you be interested in visiting us for one of our event and to speak for University of Bath?
http://www.lowcarbonsouthwest.co.uk/?p=1
Look forward to hearing from you..
Pinar
Hello Dale.
I am norwegian journalist who after almost 20 years in television have left a safe job, to work on more meaningful projects. Among others establishing the worlds first Obamafestival this summer in Bolærne, a beautiful island south of Oslo. A festival inspired by the american president Barck Obama talk of CHANGE - more precisely - the impossible is possible.
I have read your story and it seems to me that you have made the impossible possible(?) I therefore wondered if we could invite you to the festival to talk about your effort and ambitions to make a zero carbonista. There is quite a few people coming to the festival who done the impossible possible and the whole idea is to inspire people to leave the main road and challenge themselves (life is short etc!) . I do not know if this mail finds its way through cyberspace, but I cross my fingers and hope to hear from you.
Yours sincerly Arne Johan Furseth
organizer Obamafestivalen, Norway
@Tommy Murphy - thanks for the link Tommy, I’d heard about this Whale Tubercle thing a few months ago, but didn’t have a link to the guys developing the applications.
Very interesting stuff - and if what they say is right (and not a bit exaggerated…
) then it should bring really big benefits to wind and probably tidal power too.
Not sure on the patenting mind you, looks like something nature should have the patent on, and in a way you’d have to be daft to say these lumps on the fins of a whale must be a mistake of one million years evolution, bit obvious that they had a function maybe….?
I’m no expert on how patents work though… Cheers.
Dale - as you are a Green entrepreneur in the South West, would you be interested in helping us oppose the unnecessary expansion of Bristol Airport? It aims to increase flights causing an extra 300,000 tonnes of CO2 to be emitted each year (with around double that impact), and assumes someone else will pick up the tab for the damage done.
We need respected business people to state that they do not require the airport to expand in order for their own business to succeed, and we could really do with your help.
Cheers
Jeremy Birch
Stop Bristol Airport Expansion
Dear Dale,
I have been hearing about your company for a long time but have only recently found your blog. I am always incredibly inspired by companies like yours.
Recently we began publishing small blog pieces on our site and through it, people like you, have captivated a fairly large audience of green-minded readers. Over the months we have had stories from authors, inventors and ecologically minded business-people.
I wonder whether we could post something about you as an inspiration to others and as a nice way to introduce your company to our readership which includes a great many investors in green energy.
If you are interested feel free to contact me via email anytime.
Congratulations once again on your work
Yours,
Alex
Hi Dale,
I have only recently discovered this site after reading a press interview with yourself. So much material here and so interesting, it really makes Ecotricity feel like a community, as opposed to just a company. I write a blog which is dedicated to the subject of offshore wind energy. Depthcharge (my blog), talks about the social, political, economic and technical aspects of offshore wind energy. I believe these issues need to be explained clearly to the public, as the the environmental message is sometimes easily dismissed all to easily by certain sections of the business community.
Please take just two minutes to read a story on my blog and if you think its ok, please could you add a link from Zero carbonista?
Many thanks,
Alex Race
Reading, Berks.
Hi Dale
Just been looking at your project for an houre now, and i think it is very very cool..
I am studying Automotive Design and would love to learn more about your product and ideas, are there any way that i can contact you and your crew??
Please reply to my e-mail.
Kind regards
Freddie
Hi Dale
Lovin’ your work. As a property developer I always seem to come up against nimbys and the like. I’m a little surprised that you do though. Is it not possible to make an efficient olde worlde windmill? Where I live in the Chilterns, original windmills are sought after properties. Surely the only objection to a modern windmill can be a aesthetic one. The planet is choking. We’re running out of gas. The imports are coming from more volatile countries. We’re over a barrel!
I can’t help thinking that although it’s an important target to become more efficient, its’ more important to physically get these things built.
Don’t get me wrong, I like the look of a wind farm, I just think a “new” design might help move things on a little.
You like cars! F1 budgets are being slashed and regulations tightened all the time. These teams fight clever. A olde worlde windmill would be a sucker punch.
hej, Dale:
I’m writing an article that tries to envision what the green car economy will look like in 2030 (for green futures magazine). Some researchers at UC Berkeley (US) predict up to 39% of cars on the road might e-vehicles by then, and powered by wind and solar.
After working on your own e-car for awhile now, how do you see this prognosis? Do you visualize we’ll have embraced evs that thoroughly, and have made them part of a clean energy and sustainable transport system? I guess I’m a bit worried that with all the hype about hybrids and evs right now it will end up being same game, new owners, and won’t really lead us to re-think the way we do transport (and energy) for that matter. Love to hear you current thinking.
Hi Dale,
Great to read your blog and learn a little of the man behind Ecotricity - very inspiring! I think the hill you lived on in the early ’90’s is just up the road from me in the Cotswolds
I’m a designer and have an eco-invention called Firewinder that’s all about inspiring people to engage with nature and see the beauty of clean renewable energy. Firewinder visualises the wind as a mesmerising spiral of light. While we’re only a small UK company we’ve just won a Green Dot Award in the US.
I don’t need help as such, but I do have some great ideas for engaging people with public art and wonder how this might benefit Ecotricity too - I’m thinking of an installation at one of your sites. I’d like to send a Firewinder to you. If you’re interested drop me a line by email.
Warm regards,
Tom
Hi Tom, thanks for this. Happy to take a look at the firewinder and discuss ideas. BTW ’see the wind’ is a strap line we have in common - no conflict of use though.
Cheers.
Where should I send one too? Will you be at UK Aware next weekend? Perhaps drop me an email.
Happy Easter.
Tom
Hi Dale. I’ve been following the land and ice speed record attempts and have become a visitor to your website because of your sponsorship. I live on a different continent so unfortunately cannot use Ecotricity but would if I could. Hopefully one day you’ll set up in Australia. Just wanted to let you know how interesting and informative your blog is and I think it’s great what you’ve done and are doing. I’ll be sure to keep reading. All the best.
Hi Dale,
I’ve been signed up to ecotricity for a few years now. Glad that the wind share is increasing. I was wondering whether it wouldn’t be interesting for you to create a way that people could invest in ecotricity or ecotricity projects, perhaps a bit like the wind co-ops. Is it something you’ve thought of? I’m sure there would be a lot of people interested in putting their spare cash in something worthwhile.
Ian
Hello Dale,
I have just read in the Sunday Time Rich List that you are 657th equal richest in the UK, with a fortune of £85 million. To be a new entrant into this rarified publication is quite an achievement in these times.
Whatever your true wealth - and whatever you regard true wealth to be - well done!
Best regards,
Jonny.
Thanks Jonny
Dale,
I just found you on the social business directory of Clearly So.
If you cast your gaze across that river you may just spot us in the Forest of Dean. We’ve been there 3 years working as the revenue source for our mission in Eastern Europe.
Our founder Terry Hallman is currently at a conference in Sumy Ukraine entitled Economics for Ecology where he’s a plenary speaker.
Otherwise we are activists and advocates for social business encouraging government to invest in social enterprise, for example:
http://www.p-ced.com/projects/ukraine/national/
Regards,
Jeff
Thanks Jeff and good luck with your work.
Excellent concept. I look forward to the first Wind-Powered track day and race series!
Good luck and if we can be of any assistance with any Lotus related technicals or component manufacturing, please drop us a line.
Regards,
Greg Lock
MD - Hangar 111 Ltd.
Hi Dale,
I’m from NoMorePost.com, We’ve developed a secure online system for all households in the uk, to recieve all thier bills and statements online. We hope to massively increase the amount of cusumers who opt out of paper billing. To have a positive environmental effect.
We know from our initial research that most utility companies, only have a small percentage of customers who opt for paperless billing, the number one reason for this is the inconvenience of logging into several websites.
We are talking to several Utility Companies. We’d like to offer our service to Ecotricity,
A bill or statement can be sent through our system for as little as a penny.
Our service is free for consumers to use.
I hope we can have a brief telephone conversation.
Sincerely
David Grady 07785 951141
Hi Dale,
It has been said before here and you have probably already looked at this.
At some point in the not so distant future, there will be an enormous increase in the amount of EV’s driving around the roads. Many will not have the battery capacity to take journeys on motorways but people will begin to attempt short journeys. Motorway areas are already considered to be a blot on the landscape and there is a constant rumble of traffic which would easily drown out the light whooshing from any wind turbine. Do you have any future plans to build wind turbine EV refuelling stations by motor ways? The idea to me is compelling. You could dispense the energy directly at the site meaning no actual need for grid connectivity and the expensive infrastructure that goes with it. It would kill a flock of birds with one stone and if you got in there early Ecotricity could be the future of re-fuelling stations on the motor way.
ps , I in no way advocate the mass murder of avian life with mineral missiles - it’s just a metaphor.
I should also add, that one of the current problems with the economy of renewables is the storage of large amounts of electricity from renewables for later use. Having a billion cars running around constantly taking electricity from Wind Turbine re-fuelling stations and using that energy progressively throughout the day would go a long way to redress the green/brown power energy usage ratio meaning that much less oil would have to be imported and burnt in this country. If the model worked it would almost definitely be copied around the world.
Dale, I worked with Ecotricity for about a year in 2003. I am looking at starting a wind gen company in South Africa and would like to get advice on this. I’ve got the basic components in my head and would specifically like to discuss startup. From what I see Ecotrocity has been going from strength to strength, quite impressive. Regards Albert
Hi Dale
I’m completely new to the business of renewable energies. A few months ago an acquaintance of mine hired me to run a new eco company he and his colleagues were in the process of setting up in Gibraltar. The directors have a combination of 40 years air-conditioing and electrical contracting experience. We are the first renewable energy company to have set up here so our learning curve has been vertical but interesting to say the least.
Gibraltar has huge insolation possibilities for solar power due to its geographic location as well as large wind resources in the straits area. That said the market is very small – 30,000 inhabitants, lots of small business’s located in clustered offices and an industrial estate.
Power generation is diesel and the grid is unable to accept input from micro generation so subsidies or net metering cannot be considered and there is as yet no government policy. A new diesel power station is being planned BUT no guarantees of an anode system so we could be in the same situation in several years time when it comes online.
Having said all of that we are still getting enquiries for alternative energy so there is a market to be had though it is for stand alone systems. I’d be interested in discussing with you if there is a mutually beneficial way forward or if your model could work, I’m stumped at this stage to be honest. Maybe I’m looking at it the wrong way.