Leamington company Encraft is co-ordinating a project, the first of its kind, which explores the generation of energy using turbines in urban areas.

Ten turbines have been installed at a number of sites in the district including Hill Close Gardens in Warwick and the Princes Drive recycling centre in Leamington.

Since it started in 2006, the Wind Trials project has put manufacturers’ claims about this relatively new technology to the test.

Encraft’s managing director Matthew Rhodes explained that the mantra ‘location, location, location’ is key.

He said: “It’s very exciting to be part of this project.

“This is a new technology and an important one as around 30 per cent of carbon emissions come from people’s homes.

“We’ve seen a very wide range in terms of the energy produced at this preliminary stage but the project is also important in making people more aware.

“We’ve also been finding out how people respond to having the turbines around them.

“Most have said they do not have a problem with them and would like to see more. They are not usually that noisy, especially in less windy areas.

“Being able to generate electricity locally is very important as it costs a lot to transport it.”

Fears about climate change, caused in part by the burning of non-renewable or fossil fuels for energy, has led to an increasing focus on wind technology.

The government recently announced plans for thousands of new offshore turbines which it says could potentially power every home in Britain by 2020.

But Park Street-based Encraft is focusing on a closer-to-home approach which will integrate wind technology into people’s everyday lives.

Ten white turbines, which measure 1.8 metres in diameter (six feet), are operating at a number of locations in the district including one at a private house in Lillington Road, several on flats in Eden and Southorn Courts in Lillington and in Tannery Court in Kenilworth.

Due to the district’s lower-than-average wind rates, turbines have also been placed from Cornwall to Aberdeen.

They cost between £2,000 and £5,000 to install and can produce up to 1,000 units of electricity a year in the most favourable locations.

Janet Alty paid £3,000 to have a turbine installed on the roof of her Lillington Road home in January last year as part of Encraft’s project.

She has produced 70 kilowatt hours of electricity so far - enough to keep a 100-watt light bulb going for a month - but said introducing other people to the idea of alternative technology has been the most satisfying outcome.

She said: “So many people are really interested and ask me about the turbine.

“The main reason I wanted to be part of this was to give people something to think about. I have been worried about the energy crisis for many years and it is part of my lifestyle choice.

“It’s a jolly long pay-back time but I’m really proud to be part of it.

“It’s not very noisy.