With increasing concern about climate change and escalating energy costs, people, businesses, schools and community groups are increasingly looking to generate their own electricity.
Next Generation Turbines is a thriving business focused on finding and distributing the latest renewable energy technologies. Founding partner Neil Kerr was inspired by hearing Al Gore speak at the nearby Hay Festival - “It struck me that whilst awareness of climate change was increasing, helping people to find and implement the right solution was going to be the next challenge”.
Since the UK has 40% of Europe’s wind resource Next Generation Turbines initially focused on the residential wind turbine market.
Leading edge technology
“At first we looked at sourcing wind turbines from China, since I had contacts there and had a logistics business to facilitate the process. However, whilst we found plenty of cheap wind turbines, we couldn’t find a turbine that inspired confidence”, continues Neil. “As soon as we saw the Skystream we knew it was the perfect product for the UK residential wind turbine market. This revolutionary wind turbine is the result of years of research by the manufacturers of the world’s best selling small wind turbine and the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory. With plug and play simplicity, stunning looks, affordable price and efficient energy production it was clear that it was head and shoulders above the other turbines in the market”. Next Generation Turbines became UK distributors for the Skystream 3.7TM in April 2007.
Local installers, national coverage
Based in Herefordshire, Next Generation Turbines sell through a network of local installers who together offer national coverage. “Not only do customers want to buy from local installers, it is completely counterintuitive to drive all over the country to promote low carbon products” says James Stoney, MD of Next Generation Turbines. “By working with our selected local installation partners that have been in the industry for years our customers will get proper advice from trained and experienced installers, rather than from salespeople. Our philosophy is that by providing good, honest advice and a good service, satisfied customers become our best possible sales force.”
Save money and save the planet
Interestingly, most of Next Generation Turbines’ customers are motivated as much by saving money as saving the planet. “We’ve had lots of customer feedback from customers who are thrilled to have reduced their electricity bills and reduced their carbon footprint at the same time. One of our customers contacted us to say his turbine was earning the equivalent of 9% pre-tax return on his initial investment, which at today’s interest rates and uncertain times in the stock market is a very healthy return”. The introduction of the feed-in tariff in April 2010 should have a radical effect on the payback period for most renewable energy technologies. If the payback can be reduced to five to six years then the future uptake of these technologies will be huge, as it needs to be for the UK to meet its very ambitious, but utterly essential, carbon reduction commitments. Next Generation Turbines is actively working with organisations such as the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) to respond to the Government Consultation on the Feed-in tariff.
What’s next?
Next Generation Turbines is now looking to expand the range of turbines that they offer to include larger turbines that would be better suited for the higher energy demands of farms, industrial units and community buildings. What about expansion beyond wind turbines into other renewable energy technologies I ask. Neil and James remain frustratingly unforthcoming with specifics “There are a number of very exciting discussions going on at the moment which will consolidate growth of this successful business”. So you’ll be getting into solar I venture- they smile wryly, which is the closest they come to say that this is where Next Generation Turbines is heading next. Watch this space.
