Guernsey’s annual average wind speed of 11.3 knots significantly surpasses the UK’s average of 8.7 knots, making it an ideal spot to capitalise on wind energy generation. With conditions that rival some of the world’s most blustery regions, such as Scotland and Wellington, NZ (1), Guernsey has a unique opportunity to tap into this natural resource and accelerate its path toward net-zero carbon emissions.
Global wind energy installations surged by 50% in 2023 compared to the previous year, with 54 countries building new wind power infrastructure (2), and is a key part of most climate change reduction and sustainable growth plans in several countries, including the UK, China, India, Germany, and the United States. 2024 was a record year for wind energy generation in the UK (3), with national news outlets reporting that wind provided 83 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity, enough to power 23 million average UK households for a year, or power Guernsey’s electricity needs for over 100 years (4).
Local renewable energy company Little Green would like to harness Guernsey’s windy conditions and see a similar switch as the UK in reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Known for their solar installations – which surged in popularity locally, with 29% of the company’s residential solar capacity installed in 2023 – Little Green also provides wind solutions.
Among their offerings is the AirTurb, a vertical wind turbine designed to generate energy in a way that is silent, vibration-free, unobtrusive, and fully recyclable. Unlike the towering offshore wind farms that dominate perceptions of wind energy, the AirTurb offers a small-scale, onshore alternative, allowing users to gradually build wind energy capacity in a more accessible and less intrusive way. This innovative technology can be installed on any flat surface, making it ideal for both domestic and commercial settings.
Jamie Clark, Operations Director of Little Green, said: “The AirTurb Model One is a compact turbine, measuring 1.8 x 1.14 x 1.14m, capable of producing up to 500 watts at Guernsey’s average wind speed of 11.3 knots, making it a real-world solution for onshore wind power generation.
“Given Guernsey’s favourable conditions for tapping into wind energy, and the accelerated growth of the wind industry, we’re confident that this is the direction the island is heading in. We’d encourage homeowners and businesses to harness this clean, cost-effective power source, reducing carbon emissions and helping achieve the island’s net-zero 2050 target.”
To showcase this technology, members of the media are invited to an exclusive demonstration of the AirTurb at Market Square (W3W: courier.circular.chef) on Wednesday February 19th at 1pm. Jamie Clark will be available for interview. Please confirm your attendance.
To find out more, go to littlegreenenergy.gg
Treehugger, The windiest places in the world,
BBC online news article, 7 January 2025
Based on Guernsey's current electricity demand of approximately 0.788 TWh per year (calculated from an average peak demand of 90 MW from Guernsey Electricity’s website), 83 TWh of energy could power the island for approximately 105 years.
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