C & F Wind turbines from Ireland, does anyone have any experience ? to me they look pretty good on paper and are priced very competively.
Thanks

You raise some good points, presently have planning for two 15kw (P35) Provens on a site with 6.2m/s
Have been monitoring the situation with the Proven's and have decided to ammend my planning to fit Gaia's instead.
Thanks

36 Mw Annually, because of the modifications to the blades they claim that it will reduce your production by 10%

Dom I understand that you put up two Proven's a while back, are you still dissatisfied.
A lot of farmers up here in Scotland putting in Proven's much promotion through the farming press.
I feel most will be disappointed with their production levels
Thanks

Posted By: earthshipally36 Mw Annually

Is that for both together, or each?

Have you got that in writing and if so would you be willing to pass that information on to me. Also whether Proven told you this or your installer?

Thanks, Dominic.

Hi I just picked up on what you have been saying. I had the pleasure of meeting Domonic and going to his site which is only a few miles from me. I was initially applying for two Proven machines but after much consideration and searching I have applied for planning for a 50kw Endurance machine which is on a 25m mast. I am confident this will be sufficient to charge my 3000 litre thermal store with three phase emersion heaters leaving the Perge log boiler to charge for non windy days!
The planning has been in over a year now which was refused on the basis it was an incongruent feature on the landscape and a bird might fly into it! My local council will not support any form of wind turbine where I live because I live on the top of a hill, and people will see it, and they will turn into stone!
Feeling a little but frustrated, being prevented from putting up a turbine I have gained support from over 150 neighbours in my village bar two people. I have overwhelming public support for my proposal and now have a planning inspectorate due to visit the site very soon to make a decision.
I believe I am making the right decision on the scale and size to run my smallholding and pay back the ridiculous grid connection fee which almost negates the whole project.
I suspect the 18 months of planning will result in a negative response despite my best efforts. Has anyone any experience of going to the high court? The costs involved? And the likely hood of getting a positive outcome in favour of a wind turbine.
Planning seems to be the big stumbling block and appears to be a postcode lottery. A farmer in Devon has recently had an Endurance turbine put up and lives in an equally exposed beautiful place. The turbine enhances the area it looks great.
Incidentally it is a myth in my experience that people are opposed to wind turbines I have overwhelming support locally the comments I got were amazingly in favour. I believe it is a vocal minority who are opposed and give the wrong impression.

Thanks Windy Lamb I don't hold out much hope for my planning, It is a shame as I would like to produce my own electricity and not be held to ransom by the electricity,gas and oil companies. I think one day I will get one but it will take a few years and more money!

I might consider applying for a nuclear waste permit to draw a bit of interest!

mmmmm....apparently C&F have now changed the belt drive system on some (all?) of their wind turbines. Seems that C&F's - R&D work is now done on their customers turbines! What ever happened to years of Research and Development before a product is launched, does marketing/selling now come before product development? Surely this will set them back in MCS and customer trust...when you rave about your belt drive, and then ditch it?

pauler,
This R&D work in the field goes for all turbines. My advice would be to never buy a new version or type of turbine. Let the supplier sort the gremlins out first!!!!
It is all to do with being the market leader and rushing testing. Turbine performance varies greatly from site to site and some turbines are not designed for certain areas and wind conditions. The first customers should either get turbines at a lower price or hold back in my opinion,
Gusty.

Pauler,
We have requested MCS verified power curve data from C&F for a client and we're waiting for it to arrive....
If they are not publishing it publicly like other manufacturers then you have to ask yourself 'why?'

We have also done a financial model for the C&F 15kW based on their published power curve against the 11kW Gaia - the Return on Investment for the Gaia at a 6.5m/s site is infinitely better based on our figures.

We have no allegiances to either manufacturer but, as you say, there is a very obvious leader at this scale. The only thing I think C&F are doing better right now is sales which they do through a large number of resellers (some of whom appear not to be wind specialists) rather than the 3 in the UK (including Gaia-Wind themselves) that resell Gaia turbines.

Pauler, I think we know the answer to your last question. The manufacturer ..no it's installed outside the design envelope, the insurer.. no it's installed outside the design envelope, the installer.. possibly liable if he told you your site was suitable.

Westwind recalling turbines.... Tell us more!!- don't think it's been discussed on here before?