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Time for a wind energy reality check
the Hutchinson News ^ | 8/03/08 | Rose Z. Bacon

Posted on 08/03/2008 1:59:42 PM PDT by kathsua

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To: DBrow
right, missed a 0. Doesn't matter however. Boones windfarm according to the other guy would produce over 600 billion HP, as the watts are in the 10's of trillions.

The real point is, the stated output claimed on these windmills is not constant power output, it's Max. power output under ideal conditions in a 24 hr period.

81 posted on 08/03/2008 6:24:14 PM PDT by Nathan Zachary
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To: billva; xcamel
>>Second you obviously don't know much about operating a power grid. When a unit is not needed it is not operating. Therefore it is not using fuel.

So how much do *you* know about quickly cranking up rolling reserve, billva? How about loss of power plant thermal efficiency at low loads?

You might read this, concerning that first:

Loss of wind causes Texas power grid emergency

82 posted on 08/03/2008 6:27:12 PM PDT by FreedomPoster (Obama: Carter's only chance to avoid going down in history as the worst U.S. president ever.)
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To: DBrow
"Fedgov will have to do something similar to force us to accept a wind plant every three miles or so, to produce at most 10% of domestic power (don’t hold me to that I dindn’t look it up)."

That's about right, as is the rest of your post.

windpower isn't all that it's crack up to be. People are being suckered. Sure it's ok for individual use like me way out in the sticks where grid power is expensive. But it isn't cheap, and it isn't easy either. It requires constant work and maintenance, and isn't always there when you want it to be.

83 posted on 08/03/2008 6:28:18 PM PDT by Nathan Zachary
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To: Nathan Zachary

1 horsepower = 745.699872 watts

per Handbook of Chemistry and Physics

600 is good for back-of-the-envelope, though.

A 4000 MW plant is equivalent to 5.4 million horsepower.

That would take a lot of oats, and the post-processed oats would fill a train!


84 posted on 08/03/2008 6:31:40 PM PDT by DBrow
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To: Nathan Zachary

I agree- if it’s going to make power for him to sell, he’d have done it already. He needs subsidies and tax breaks and someone else’s money, and the tax breaks will be used to offset his other taxes.


85 posted on 08/03/2008 6:35:16 PM PDT by DBrow
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To: Nathan Zachary

I will bow to you knowledge of private windmill installation. The instance you speak of, line maintenance, etc. , has been overcome with solar enhanced residences. Some utility companies don’t really want supplemental energy because it reduces their revenue. I will not argue with you, that TODAY, the initial outlay for the installation of solar or wind power is extensive. That doesn’t mean it will be in the future.

I hope you don’t mind if I answer two of your posts with one, but my time is limited.

In answer to your post #78..

Pickens built a huge windmill farm in west Texas, at his own expense. I’m not a Pickens groupie, of course he intends to make a profit. But it wasn’t something he HAD to do. Let’s face it, the guy is pretty flush already.


86 posted on 08/03/2008 6:38:20 PM PDT by berdie
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To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA
The local power supplier is buying windpower from Texas ~ the company even financed the producer so they could get starte sooner. This fluctuating power source is easily offset through the connection to HydroQuebec. Plus, there are a series of coal-fired plants in the loop; couple of gas generators (they fire up fast to provide a reliable fill in for baseload needs). Then there are the atomic power plants on the company's grid.

We have thermal power protention a mere 120 feet deep in this area.

87 posted on 08/03/2008 7:14:06 PM PDT by muawiyah (We need a "Gastank For America" to win back Congress)
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To: hkp123
I can't tell you for sure how to do it, but can give some suggestions.

To start with do an internet search on wind power. I did that the other day just for fun and a lot came up including people who will build and sell a system.

It will not be cheap and may not be worth the investment. However if you did put in a windmill and it generated more than you need at any time it could be sent back into the grid and you might get paid for the excess when that is happening. You would have to check with you local electrid utility on that policy.

In fact checking with your local electric utility might be a way to get a lead for people who deal with windmills.

88 posted on 08/03/2008 7:33:15 PM PDT by billva
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To: Nathan Zachary
And no, Mega watts is not Millions of watts.

Kilowatt is 1000 watts, where Mega is 1000 kilowatts

Nathan, 1000 kilowatts is 1 megawatt. Mega is millions.

89 posted on 08/03/2008 7:35:22 PM PDT by billva
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To: Teacher317
You might want to stop for a moment and just think... why does a man like T Boone need to ADVOCATE for a plan? If it's viable, why doesn't he simply BUILD it? That alone should tell you that there is not currently a way to make it efficient. He's merely pushing an idea to get federal dollars. Sad that so many here merely need a pretty commericial to make them want to send more tax dollars to a multi-billionaire who is already in the energy field.

Nuclear is FAR more efficient, reliable, consistent, transferable, storable, etc., and needs no further development, nor tax money.

Hey I'm with you on Nuclear. Let's say Nuclear being a big part of the long range solution. However the Windmills can be online a lot quicker and can freeing up other fuels for other uses earlier.

I think we need to have a comprehensive plan that includes wind, solar, nuclear and drilling for oil. For that matter the ocean has some potential also.

But I think that the wind in the middle of the country can be brought online while nuclear is being permitted.

Interestingly both Florida Power and Light and Georgia Power are both in the process of getting approval for adding Nuclear.

It's about time.

90 posted on 08/03/2008 7:43:25 PM PDT by billva
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To: FreedomPoster
So how much do *you* know about quickly cranking up rolling reserve, billva? How about loss of power plant thermal efficiency at low loads?

You might read this, concerning that first:

Loss of wind causes Texas power grid emergency

Thanks for the link.

That doesn't really change what I am saying though. Units do not operate at full capacity if they are not delivering power. What happened in Texas is exactly what I posted in my long post, low frequency took some customers off, units that were on standby were brought up to higher operating capacity and the customers were brought back online. What I do imagine, but don't know the details, is that since Wind Power will be more unreliable and therefore more reserve capacity might be required. However no matter how you look at it if there is considerable wind power online then there are units that will not be burning fossil fuel.

Also I don't think windmills are applicable everywhere. But in the middle part of the country there does seem to be areas where it is very feasible and can be transmitted elsewhere in the country. Since we are all in this together it still seems feasible to me.

91 posted on 08/03/2008 7:56:02 PM PDT by billva
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To: guitarplayer1953
I live in Kansas and this is so asinine that it blows my mind. In the early 70’s we built Wolfcreek nuclear plant that was to provide us the old KG&E customers power into and beyond the 21st century. What happened was that KG&E and KC power and light merged, with the clause that that KC power people would not be saddled with the Wolfcreek costs so their power has cost less because Wolfcreek sells them power for less Wolfcreek sells power to out of state co-ops for less than we pay for it is. Now Westar is wanting to get into wind and who is going to pay for it?

Actually Wolf Creek was completed in the late 80's.
92 posted on 08/03/2008 7:56:34 PM PDT by Sig Sauer P220
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To: berdie
Pickens built a huge windmill farm in west Texas, at his own expense. I’m not a Pickens groupie, of course he intends to make a profit. But it wasn’t something he HAD to do. Let’s face it, the guy is pretty flush already.

I'm with you on this. Like he said he already has all the money he needs and I personally believe him and will listen to his ideas.

We need to do things differently and I'll sure take his word over the liberal democrats who don't seem to give a damn that we have a problem.

I believe that while he said we can't drill our way out of this problem that we do need to drill as part of the solution.

93 posted on 08/03/2008 8:07:14 PM PDT by billva
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To: FreedomPoster
So how much do *you* know about quickly cranking up rolling reserve, billva? How about loss of power plant thermal efficiency at low loads?

I apologize for not responding to this remark in my last post.

In fact I don't know that much about how long it takes to bring up rolling reserve.

But I feel those type problems can be handled, it may take policy and operating changes but it only makes sense that if you have large amount of wind power operating that it is replacing some type of other fuel, maybe not at the same efficiently but still a savings in fuel. What I mean is that it may take changes in the amount of rolling reserve that you mention but it's still a savings.

My experience isn't in the power end of the business so I don't know all the ins and outs but do understand the general idea. My experience was in Tranmission and Distribution.

Anyway I didn't mean to blow by your question.

94 posted on 08/03/2008 8:16:57 PM PDT by billva
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To: billva

At least it’s an idea. Which is more than we are hearing from anyone else.

I think we maybe on the cusp of new technology. That is a good thing, imo. It happens every so often.

Orville..Wilbur..that thing won’t fly.

Like you said, he didn’t say don’t drill.

Why not listen..nobody else has a solution. When they do..I’ll pay attention.


95 posted on 08/03/2008 8:24:32 PM PDT by berdie
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To: Sig Sauer P220

either way it was to provide for all of KG&E’s needs and now they say we need more.


96 posted on 08/03/2008 8:31:35 PM PDT by guitarplayer1953 (For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom)
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To: nmh; Nathan Zachary; Pontiac
Regarding Pontiac provided this link regarding compressed air storage:

http://www.sandia.gov/media/NewsRel/NR2001/norton.htm

in this thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051186/replies?c=69

And thackney provided this image of the Seneca Pumped Storage facility in the same thread:


97 posted on 08/03/2008 11:51:18 PM PDT by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: thackney

I meant to add your screen-name to the address line for post # 97. Please take a look.


98 posted on 08/04/2008 12:04:46 AM PDT by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA
Thanks for the ping.

Finally some truth about wind power from a politician.

99 posted on 08/04/2008 5:37:18 AM PDT by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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