INA SPIN: Glasgow-based green energy pioneer Windsave has signed an exclusive agreement with British Gas to enable homeowners to generate their own free wind power, writes Simon Bain .

Windsave, founded by David Gordon, sold one of its first rooftop wind turbines last November to former energy minister Brian Wilson, who installed the device on the roof of his house in Glasgow's West End.

Now a British Gas pilot later this year will see the mini- turbines installed on selected properties, both private and local authority-owned, in Scotland and the south-west of England.

Gordon, above, developed the invention with pounds-1m of personal funding.

A tiny version of its big brother the windfarm turbine, the Windsave rooftop model is expected to produce around 1kw of electricity per household to supplement the existing national grid supply - enough to power a TV and DVD player, computer, the fridge and freezer and several lights.

Dr Diana Montgomery, head of environment strategy at Scottish Gas, said: "Having a roof-top turbine means householders can save money and help do their bit for the environment. Initial estimates show one unit could cut annual electricity bills by up to a third and reduce co2 emissions by half a tonne per annum."

The micro-wind generators, similar in size to a satellite dish, can be bolted on to a wall. They plug directly into the mains through a standard three pin plug and can operate in wind speeds as low as three miles per hour.

A control box smoothes out the rough electricity created by the wind power and converts it to match the household mains frequency. The turbines are likely to retail at around pounds-1500.

Subsidies may be available.

Scottish & Southern Energy last October bought a minority stake in Edinburgh-based Renewable Devices Swift Turbines, developer of its own roof-mounted wind energy system.

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