Siemens has just installed a wind turbine with a 154-meter rotor. This is an exciting development because the higher you go, the harder and steadier the wind blows. A report by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (h/t The Economist) recently looked at the new generation of giant turbines in terms of the areas they open up for productive wind farms:
They made this calculation by assuming a need for a gross capacity factor of 30%. The larger turbines achieve that over a much larger area than those in common use today.
I'd be interested as to the average capacity factor of these larger turbines in areas with optimal wind conditions. Danish offshore wind farms average a capacity factor of about 40%, compared to a US average (consisting overwhelmingly of onshore turbines) of 29%. However, the wind behaves differently over oceans as opposed to on land. It's probably reasonable, as a back-on-the-envelope calculation, to suppose that onshore installations the size of offshore turbines would achieve a capacity factor that would be intermediate between the two.
Improvements in photovoltaic cells get a lot of press these days, but it is worth noting that wind energy is not a stable technology either. It is rapidly getting cheaper and more productive. Now if we as a country would invest in a grid that can ship power cross-country and manage demand with dynamic pricing, you could really see renewable energy explode.
I'd be interested as to the average capacity factor of these larger turbines in areas with optimal wind conditions. Danish offshore wind farms average a capacity factor of about 40%, compared to a US average (consisting overwhelmingly of onshore turbines) of 29%. However, the wind behaves differently over oceans as opposed to on land. It's probably reasonable, as a back-on-the-envelope calculation, to suppose that onshore installations the size of offshore turbines would achieve a capacity factor that would be intermediate between the two.
Improvements in photovoltaic cells get a lot of press these days, but it is worth noting that wind energy is not a stable technology either. It is rapidly getting cheaper and more productive. Now if we as a country would invest in a grid that can ship power cross-country and manage demand with dynamic pricing, you could really see renewable energy explode.
generator kipor
ReplyDeletehydrogen generator for cars
Engines & Generators - Everything Engines & Generators. Stirling Engine Generator,Steam Engines,Mini Generators,Engine Kits,Model Engines,Used Engines,Kipor Generators Hydrogen Generators,Steam Engine Kits,Crate Engines,Used Engines for Sale and more information then visit: www.engines-n-generators.com
Define "better." Better for what? Certainly not the view. They keep getting bigger and more visible, obliterating a rural sense of place.
ReplyDeleteAny commentary on industrial wind power that doesn't mention the visual blight, noise and flyway carnage of these machines is missing a major point. It's sad to see "environmentalists" being so apathetic about the landscapes and wildlife they used to fight for. They have been duped by the notion that wind power can do something about fossil fuels (on a meaningful scale) and even if it could it would be an unethical industrial experiment affecting more nice areas that anything else Man has invented.
Wind projects take over nicer landscapes than where oil drilling tends to occur, and are ruining mountains in similar ways to coal mining, which at least doesn't leave spiky white towers behind. Please think before you drink wind kool-aid.