dont take any chances. cast iron approach is needed for MCS and FITs

MCS allows an accredited installer to sub-contract parts of the project to others who are proved 'competent'.

To avoid any potential future problems the customer should contract directly with the MCS installer. This doesn't happen at present with some large pv companies who are nothing more than marketing 'fronts' and who are not members of MCS or REAL. This could lead to serious problems for a customer if a project went sour. MCS are aware of the problem and are planning to address it.

For this turbine, I'd suggest either waiting until the model is MCS accredited (could be a long time if it is not already in process) or getting a lawyer to draw up a binding contract where the turbine company will reimburse the customer for any and all losses if they fail to get the machine MCS accredited by a specified date, and make the purchase conditional upon that contract. You might find that the company are unwilling to sign it - that will tell you everything you need to know.

Sorry to hear your Environmental Health/Planning delays, either they got their calculations wrong or it was a very noisy turbine which is not what you want anyway.
I agree with Ted with the contract document route. If the company is along way down the accreditation road then they must have a pretty good idea of the turbine status. They should have the confidence to enter the contract knowing the turbine will become accreditied. If they don't then why should you have confidence if they don't?

Candlemaker, Your planning condition propably is unenforcable. I've had 20 years experience in noise and planning conditions and suggest many planning conditions a worded very poorly.
If you think about it, if the planning condition stated 5dB(A) below background as measured at the nearest noise sensitive property then at the quietest time (when there's no wind) the turbine wouldn't be working so no problem there. You are really looking at a predicted noise level from the turbine against the background noise level at any given wind speed. The 5 dB below background is to do with a noise rating assessment (BS4142) and if something is 5dB below background (but still audible) then "complaints are unlikely".

I had to do a full noise assessment for my Gaia using the manufacturers noise performance data and on site measurements - we found that the background noise level without wind was about 27dB(A) leq 1 hour (quietest I've ever measured anywhere) but as soon as you get a bit of wind the background noise increases - the wind was the background noise. Background with no wind = 25-27 dB, at 3m/s wind = 36 dB, at 4m/s = 38dB and 5m/s = 44 dB, above 5m/s then the sound level meter's wind sheald can't cope.

Using data provided from the manufacturers (Gaia) then the predicted noise level at the nearest noise sensitive property could be compared to the background. At my place the neighbours are 350m away and the Gaia would be below 30dB at any wind speed, so well over 10dB below background. Our house is 120m from the turbine and, although it is inaudible in the house, we would be struggling to comply with the 5dB below limit (we are not classed as a noise sensitive property so thats OK anyway).
You need to see a proper noise performance test from the manufacturer (not just a figure quoted on their web site) and you need to know the background noise level at your nearest neighbour. If the predicted noise level from the turbine is less than 30-35 dB at your neighbours then you would within the World Health Organisations noise standard for undisturbed sleep! At 190m a Gaia would be 35 dB at 8m/s. Any nearer to your neighbour and they may well be knocking at your door.
PS It cost us £8K to go to 3 phase and most considered that to be a bargin!!

Thanks for the comments, we did spend a lot of time with one us standing in a field measuring wind speed and one at our boundary. We did a couple of measurements every day at varying times between midnight and 6.00am for 20 days (not consecutive, we chose days with different types and wind and weather) Figures all show that with the second choice of turbine which is an Aircon 10 it should be be inaudible at our nearest boundary so fingers crossed! After being advised to withdraw our first application due to noise concerns we have focused on this and the Aircon figures submitted as part of the MCS testing look very good and hopefully full accreditation is not far away. As I think I mentioned already the second part of plan is to install solar panels to heat water (which we pump round the water jackets that keep our wax liquid) I am told that for us as we are heating water, Solar would be more cost effective than PV, but as we have now splashed out on 3phase we can export more electricity if we wanted to, so I was wondering whether PV could be a better option (Budget will be tight so one we could add to would be good as well)? I forgot to mention we have about 130 sq meters of south facing pitch roof to go at

If you wish to make heat from solar PV don't use an immersion heater, use a heat pump to get 3-ish times more. (Then you make about the same amount of hot water per square metre of roof space used too.)

Rgds

Damon

Dump loads need to reliably dump *excess* energy that cannot be used productively for whatever reason, so should be simple as possible. Their primary purpose is throwing energy away.

Dump loads for heating domestic water seem to usually ineffective: it takes a great deal of energy to heat water that way.

Rgds

Damon

Hello All
well at long last we finally installed our Wind Turbine yesterday! we waited until the Aircon got its MCS. The really great feeling is all the guys in the workshop seem really chuffed that we are all doing our bit, and our candles will it least in part be made from wind power. I put the horses back in their field this morning (which is where the turbine is) and they are very happy with their new field mate which is good. Turbine started turning last night just about darkness and I was chuffed to see this morning by 8.00 to see the 0000's on the the generation meter turn to 59. time will tell how well we will do, but the last years project has opened my eyes to renewable s and how we need to look at the whole business. for anyone reading this like me a complete amateur please don't let planning put you off no idea if the financials will stack up (Kind of hope they will!) but it honestly it has been a really positive experience and so glad we did it. Finally anyone know how long before i stop staring at the the thing with a silly smile on my face and get back to work?

Not read that twitter, and probably won't, but is it not like comparing the performance of a Kia Rio at 60 mph against a Jag XF at 60 mph, you could compare the Kia at 70 mpg against the Jag at 70 mpg just as easily, except the Jag can't do that.

With turbines it is the performance curve and the wind speed distribution that is important, not one or the other.

Hi Pauler

Dont wish to become an advocate for Aircon, and I know Gaia are well regarded and certainly great machines. However, noise was my biggest concern we are in a tiny hamlet and having given my word to my neighbors and friends that nobody would be able to hear the Turbine from their house or garden I was more than happy to accept less of a payback (not always all about the money!) for a quieter machine. Also having canvassed views from the people who would have to look at it for the next few years the consensus was a 3 bladed machine looked a little better. I have to say standing 70 meters away at the stables last night watching the horses munch their tea and watching the Aircon spin silently (truthfully not a whisper) and having 2 neighbors call to say how good and not intrusive the turbine looked I felt pretty good.

Candlemaker,
I'm pleased that you have your turbine and may you enjoy it for many many years. I have a Gaia and I have to admit the Aircon does look nicer! I'm still smiling at mine though.