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I think its to do with the amount of resistance within the generator - if it spins too fast there is not enough.
This is true of my wind up radio - if I try to recharge to fast - it does not charge so efficiently.
Of course - there is the theory of my OH's resistance to actually doing something about a wind turbine!
I have just realised that my friend's hubby is a wind farm consultant/planner - will phone him tonight and get back to you.

Odsox wrote:

Big Al wrote: Tis true. We have turbines up the hill from us and if the wind gets over 5mph they shut down......

I trust that is a typo Al, at 5mph they are just thinking about starting up

A further point I ought to have made in my earlier post ... if turbines don't like wind, why do they stick them in the most exposed places they can find ?

I didn't think it was as these are massive 300 m turbines but I'll scurry away and check.

Big Al wrote:

Odsox wrote:

Big Al wrote: Tis true. We have turbines up the hill from us and if the wind gets over 5mph they shut down......

I trust that is a typo Al, at 5mph they are just thinking about starting up

A further point I ought to have made in my earlier post ... if turbines don't like wind, why do they stick them in the most exposed places they can find ?

I didn't think it was as these are massive 300 m turbines but I'll scurry away and check.

I think that should be 50 mph and not 5 mph Al

Quote from the Irish Wind energy for commercial turbines .....

Wind turbines typically start operating at wind speeds around Beaufort Force 3 (which is around 3-5 metres per second (m/s), or 8-12 miles per hour (mph)). Turbines reach maximum power output at Beaufort 5 (around 11-14 m/s or 25-30 mph). At very high wind speeds, i.e. Beaufort Storm Force 10 winds, (around 24 m/s or 55 mph) or greater the wind turbines shut down to prevent excessive wear and tear. Since winds of this strength occur only for a handful of hours per year, very little energy is lost in high wind periods.

Ok - it seems that some of the smaller 'garden' turbines have the wind speed problem - which seems to make sense as their sails or blades are smaller and reacte to wind more quickly.
We also get very high winds a lot more frequently than average - usually losing a major item at least once a year - Shed, garage. 12'' trampoline for example. By lost I mean blown at least half a mile away.
Have also discovered that we are in a conservation area - so a turbine might not get permission. Mind you, thats not the fault of the wind!