Wind power

[BradT]

Why don't I see wind turbines anywhere? It is a very rare occasion when I do. The main reason that I can think of is the initial cost. To get a turbine that can actually provide an "adequate" amount of power, you need to go big, and this is expensive. However, smaller models can be purchase for homes, and while they won't cover all your usage, they do help some. I know that there are massive farms of wind turbines, but why hasn't there been a much larger sweep of commercial turbines for homeowners?

What are the weaknesses and strengths of wind power? Will it ever grow? Why or why not?

 

[villageidiot111]

I don't know of anyone who has a personal turbine, that just sounds weird.

 

[K1052]

Cost and location mostly. The larger the turbine is the more cost effective they are, this is why they've been scaled up quite a bit in the last few years.

 

[compnovice]

Pros: Non-Polluting, Renewable

Cons: Unreliable, expensive, Turbines act like a zapper for birds..

 

[Capt Caveman]

Cost and zoning regulations. Most cities/towns have height restrictions.

 

[HannibalX]

They don't generate very much power at all. Years ago (maybe ten years) I read that all the wind generators in California don't produce 10% of what a traditional coal fire generator does.

 

[So]

Pros: It feels good
Cons: You can't really run a power system with them and you end up just running your gas turbines more inefficiently (bad for the environment) to make up for the fluctuations in output.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

I was told once by someone in the business that a turbine in the Flint Hills of Kansas (where it's windy) would take over 20 years to recoup the initial cost, not including the maintenance.

 

[Rogodin2]

The windmaps dictate the potential sites for turbine placement. There are very few 4+ energy tops in this country. I live within 30 miles of class 4/5 locations. Katana Industries is a major player in the port of Ephrata.

The infrastruce and machining cost to produce a class A wind turbine is high enough that the placement is crucial.

Rogo

 

[Rogodin2]

PS

Map

Rogo

 

[NikolaeVarius]

It would take like, an entire country to fit enough turbines to generate god amount of power. They also kill birds like crazy, look goddamn ugly, and is a hunk of trash anywhere without constant wind,

 

[misle]

I work for a power company (distribution engineer). We've had 2 customers installed their own turbines. I think the initial investment was something like $16,000. The power generated isn't even enough to eliminate their monthly electric bill (that includes power produced that is sold to the utility company).

For individuals, it is very cost prohibitive and will take a long time to pay for itself, even with tax credits.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Rogodin2
The windmaps dictate the potential sites for turbine placement. There are very few 4+ energy tops in this country. I live within 30 miles of class 4/5 locations. Katana Industries is a major player in the port of Ephrata.

The infrastruce and machining cost to produce a class A wind turbine is high enough that the placement is crucial.

Rogo

Bingo. And some of the sites that are good enough for wind turbine placement suffer from BANANAism and NIMBYism.

 

[Wreckem]

West Texas/The South Plains are chalk full of them. Not for home owners, but large wind farms, on what is useless barren land where there is a constant wind. There is a reason Texas Tech offers the first PhD program in Wind Science and Engineering.

 

[SlickSnake]

Texas has recently approved studies for massive wind farms off the coast in the ocean. They are better suited over the oceans because the oceans and jet streams create more turbulence in the atmosphere, I believe. I was searching for the article I read recently, but could not find it.
Texas Renewable Energy Resources
And wind farms over land present a hazard to birds and aircraft that are reduced over the oceans. Who wants to live next door to a wind farm?

 

[SlickSnake]

Odd double posting...

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: compnovice
Pros: Non-Polluting, Renewable

Cons: Unreliable, expensive, Turbines act like a zapper for birds..

the bird killer claim is untrue. In the last year or so, there have been a ton of commercial windmills put up about 30 miles from my house. I love taking the back way when I'm heading to Buffalo or Rochester, just so I can see t hose windmills. Spectacular to see (IMHO). The community reactions are mixed: half the people love them, half the people absolutely hate them.

Some poor pictures: here

 

[PowerEngineer]

Actually, wind is the most popular type of renewable/green electrical generation right now. That's partly because of federal tax incentives. It's also because many state have passed new laws requiring utilities to meet green generation targets in the future. And the sorry fact is that other green options are even less cost effective.

None of these renewable/green options are as cost effective as the traditional fossil/hydro generation. That's fine as long as society believes in the long term benefits of renewable generation. Customers should be prepared for substantially higher electricity costs as renewable resources are integrated into the generation mix.

 

[gorcorps]

A lot of places don't have the climate to warrant wind turbines. Or the space. I go to a fantastic engineering school that is really focused on energy (Colorado School of Mines) and we've delt with a whole slew of energy ideas. Wind is definitely one of my personal faves because it's fairly easy to implement and can generate a huge amount of energy if there's enough wind.

Unfortunately the majority don't live in those areas, so it's not an end all solution.

 

[jw0ollard]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: compnovice
Pros: Non-Polluting, Renewable

Cons: Unreliable, expensive, Turbines act like a zapper for birds..

the bird killer claim is untrue. In the last year or so, there have been a ton of commercial windmills put up about 30 miles from my house. I love taking the back way when I'm heading to Buffalo or Rochester, just so I can see t hose windmills. Spectacular to see (IMHO). The community reactions are mixed: half the people love them, half the people absolutely hate them.

Beat me to it.

That myth doesn't even make sense.. the blades are so small and the turbines spin so slowly, you'd have to throw an entire flock of birds at a windmill to kill what, one or two birds?

Besides, the residential variety are normally labelled "bird-safe" as the turbines are vertical axis and there actually isn't any room for a bird to get stuck in the blades.

It is estimated that each year in the USA

* 57 million birds die in collisions with vehicles
* 1.25 million in collisions with tall structures (towers, stacks, buildings)
* more than 97.5 million in collisions with plate glass
* 4 million to 10 million night-migrating songbirds in collisions with telecommunications towers
* household cats in the U.S. are estimated to kill 100 million birds each year

In comparison each wind turbine kills 0 - 2 birds per year at worst.

^ Who knows if this is true, but it's probably pretty close.

 

[Unmoosical]

I think using them over the ocean is a great idea. I didn't, however, realized they killed so many birds over land. I guess this isn't entirely true as others have stated.

Also, does everyone think that the site of wind turbines is that horrible? I don't see what the issue is. I don't think they look any worse than a tall building.

 

[frostedflakes]

http://www.kitegen.com/index_en.html

Sounds very promising.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

I personally think the turbines look very cool. Here in Massachusetts the legislature is trying to pass Cape Wind, where some turbines would be built in the Cape Cod Bay. Unfortunately, some of our congressmen have houses there and are afraid it will mar their view of the ocean. :roll:

 

[jw0ollard]

Originally posted by: frostedflakes
http://www.kitegen.com/index_en.html

Sounds very promising.

cliffs plz tl;dr

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: compnovice
Pros: Non-Polluting, Renewable

Cons: Unreliable, expensive, Turbines act like a zapper for birds..

the bird killer claim is untrue. In the last year or so, there have been a ton of commercial windmills put up about 30 miles from my house. I love taking the back way when I'm heading to Buffalo or Rochester, just so I can see t hose windmills. Spectacular to see (IMHO). The community reactions are mixed: half the people love them, half the people absolutely hate them.

Some poor pictures: here

are those the ones West of Nunda? ive driven past there a few times and there are a TON of them going up there, go out Telegraph road tou go right through them and they are massive