Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Study: Wind Farms Even More Expensive And Pointless Than You Thought
Breitbart ^ | 7 Jul 2015 | James Delingpole

Posted on 07/07/2015 12:31:16 PM PDT by newgeezer

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-37 last
To: varyouga
Seems pretty good on land if that is accurate

The whole point of the article is that the chart isn't accurate.

21 posted on 07/07/2015 2:13:17 PM PDT by SunTzuWu
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: newgeezer

It all depends on the goals.

If the goal is to generate electricity, yeah, they’re a big fail.

But, if the goal is to generate liberal self-righteousness, they’re a big success!


22 posted on 07/07/2015 2:14:26 PM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: newgeezer

Typical wind turbines generally cut out when wind speed hits around 30 mph (so operation range is a few mph to 30 mph). Low temperature accessories and design changes are not a real big deal, and most locations do without, as not many problems show up until -20 degrees.


23 posted on 07/07/2015 2:15:31 PM PDT by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: newgeezer

The innards have to be kept warm when the temp drops. Let a machine that uses bearings, grease, oil, pumps and valves set idle for 12 hours in sub zero temps and just ‘turn it on’ and its gonna break.


24 posted on 07/07/2015 2:20:02 PM PDT by Delta 21 (Patiently waiting for the jack booted kick at my door.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: newgeezer
environmental blight caused to the landscape

They may be referring to the road network. In waste areas (e.g. Texas) that's probably no big deal, but in the east they generally have to clear forests.

25 posted on 07/07/2015 3:04:33 PM PDT by palmer (Net "neutrality" = Obama turning the internet into FlixNet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sopater

In the desert?


26 posted on 07/07/2015 3:09:42 PM PDT by dljordan (WhoVoltaire: "To find out who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: varyouga

It’s not accurate.

And they have “added” the so-called “social cost” of coal ... by adding in anything and any assumptions they want to.


27 posted on 07/07/2015 3:38:47 PM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but socialists' ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: cicero2k

Wind generates 17% to 23% capacity factor. Only 1/5 nameplate rating worldwide - and that’s in the “good areas” of optimal wind speeds and wind availability.


28 posted on 07/07/2015 3:40:15 PM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but socialists' ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: newgeezer

No. They generate about 15% power at 6-8 knots wind speed, then cut out completely at 250-30 (usually 30 knots).

If the wind is below 25 knots, they cannot be fully loaded. So they generate 100% (nameplate power) only between 25 and 30 knots wind speed.


29 posted on 07/07/2015 3:42:34 PM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but socialists' ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: jjotto; DungeonMaster
Typical wind turbines generally cut out when wind speed hits around 30 mph

Got a source for that? This says "typically between 45 and 80 mph, most wind turbines cease power generation and shut down." That may be more relevant to residential (tiny) wind turbines. But, 30 MPH? I'm going to say no way that's the case on modern wind farms.

(Help me out here, DungeonMaster. You're the windpower wonk.)

30 posted on 07/07/2015 4:42:18 PM PDT by newgeezer (It is [the people's] right and duty to be at all times armed. --Thomas Jefferson, 1824)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: newgeezer

Easiest way is see for yourself on any of the commercial web sites that sell wind turbines and read the fine print on the models.

It’s possible brand new designs would handle faster winds. The very high wind speeds thrown around are what they can tolerate without damage, not where they can produce electricity.


31 posted on 07/07/2015 4:51:06 PM PDT by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: jjotto

Another big batch of ‘em going up in mid KS. Its gotta get F’n cold up in the wind. And mid July is roasting.


32 posted on 07/07/2015 5:36:20 PM PDT by Delta 21 (Patiently waiting for the jack booted kick at my door.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: palmer

Used to drive through central New York and enjoy the bucolic, pastoral scenery. Now the hills are covered with those ugly, noisy, hideous Bird killing machines. I don’t enjoy going through there anymore!


33 posted on 07/07/2015 6:46:57 PM PDT by ABN 505
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: newgeezer
I was pondering how well electricity works. I test huge electric motors most of which grind corn or pump water. A 200 hp electric motor costs $20,000 and will use $200,000 worth of electricity in it's 30 year life easily.

The US consumes 4 quads of electricity in a year. If the PTC were applied to every electric source on the chart it would cost 104 billion dollars in a government subsidy for electricity, something that really works well.

According to Herritage.org the total spending for welfare was almost 10 times that at 949 billion in 2014, and that's paying for people who don't work.

Each form of electrical production has advantages and disadvantages. I think they are all pretty nifty and I've liked wind turbines for 40 years.

34 posted on 07/08/2015 5:12:57 AM PDT by DungeonMaster (Of those born of women there is not risen one greater than John The Baptist.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: newgeezer; The Great RJ
the wind must be in a narrow range of speeds

"Narrow" is subjective. Newer wind turbines are getting bigger rotors/mw and yield is around 35-40 percent of nameplate power.

35 posted on 07/08/2015 6:06:44 AM PDT by DungeonMaster (Of those born of women there is not risen one greater than John The Baptist.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: newgeezer; jjotto

Cut out speed for windturbines is usually pretty close to 50 mph. Full load power is usually around 30mph but lately that is dropping due to the larger rotors/mw of newer turbines.


36 posted on 07/08/2015 6:09:00 AM PDT by DungeonMaster (Of those born of women there is not risen one greater than John The Baptist.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: ABN 505

But it’s better than the ugly blight of a few dozen oil rigs in a postage stamp section of the Arctic wilderness, don’t ya know!


37 posted on 07/13/2015 7:39:00 AM PDT by gnickgnack2 (QUESTION obama's AUTHORITY)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-37 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson