MINATURE wind turbines may one day become as familiar a sight on houses as satellite dishes and slash power bills.

British Gas has unveiled plans to generate free power by making the turbines available to all UK households.

An initial pilot later this year will see the generators installed on properties in Scotland and the South-West. If successful, the scheme will be rolled out across the country.

A smaller version of the huge windmill turbines, the Windsave rooftop model is expected to produce about one kilowatt of electricity - enough to power a TV and DVD player, computer, fridge and freezer, and several lights.

The device, which measures about 5ft 9in from vane tip to vane tip, can be bolted on to a wall or gable end like a satellite dish.

British Gas has signed an exclusive agreement with Windsave, of Glasgow, to supply the turbines.

Windsave estimates it will reduce the typical household energy bill by a third. Every turbine will cut carbon dioxide emissions by half a tonne a year.

Dr Diana Montgomery, head of environment strategy at British Gas, said: "Having a rooftop turbine means householders can save money and help do their bit for the environment."

British Gas said it would not confirm the retail price of the units until after the test, but estimates it will be about £1,500, including installation.

Householders can offset the initial outlay through grants for up to a third of the cost, available from the Government's Clear Skies programme.

David Gordon, head of Windsave, said a unit would pay for itself within five years.

He expects sales this year to reach £4.5m, and £12m next year.

The micro-wind generators can be plugged into the mains using a standard three-pin plug and can operate in wind speeds as low as three miles per hour.

Meanwhile, scientists at Durham University are working on a super-efficient generator, which they say could provide more power and be cheap to manufacture.

Dr Jim Bumby, of the university's New and Renewable Energy Group (Nareg), is in talks with the government of Jordan over supplying the generators to the Middle East kingdom.

Dr Bumby said: "The Jordanian government is very interested in using our design for turbines over there."

The generator can be scaled to suit anything from 500 watt or one kilowatt turbines for a house, to up to ten kilowatt machines for industrial and commercial buildings.

Emat, of Gateshead, has expressed an interest in manufacturing the generators under licence.

Dr Bumby is also talking to venture capitalists Synergys over funding to possibly turn the project into a business.

Jim Beatty, who is responsible for turning the university's research into business, said: "We have filed a world wide patent application and will trademark the design."