I have often driven by the wind farms that blight the landscapes in the Midwest and seen not a single windmill blade moving. Wind turbine not only are dependent on the wind to blow, but the wind must be in a narrow range of speeds. Too slow and no electricity is generated despite turning blades. Too fast and the windmills must be shut down least they self destruct. During the winter the hydraulic systems governing the windmills must be electrically heated. Windmills can also be shut down by icing of the blades. At theoretical best no more that about 30% of the wind energy can be captured and real averages are in the 20-25% range. For reliable and cost effective electricity production windmills are a joke.
What is that "narrow" range, typically? I'm guessing 10-to-60 MPH, maybe higher.
During the winter the hydraulic systems governing the windmills must be electrically heated.
That's interesting. I'm trying to verify that but coming up empty.
A couple of years ago I read a report that the Texas windmill system(largest in the country) had a utilization rate of only 5%. Pretty stupid, eh? The damn things are hideous as far as I am concerned.
I have been unable to find that specific report lately. It was either a state issued or state funded report and has probably been “erased” along with the IRS files. Or maybe buried under the Titanic for safe keeping.