This presentation has good information related to the wind energy sector... Wind energy represents nearly 5% of the US electrical generation and is targeted to reach 20% in the future. Pacific Crest Transformers manufactures liquid-filled distribution transformers for various industry verticals, wind sector being one of them. Visit the website for more on wind energy.
The capacity factor may be 30% (the wind blows only 30% of the time) but the capacify value, the actual output of a turbine, is less than 14% name plate 80% of the time. This is because the wind may blow only 30% of the time, but of that 30% of time the wind blows, 80% of that time it blow below the maximum speed needed for name plate output. Thus you can now triple the number of turbines needed.
Many units have capacity factors well below 30% because of the factors you mention. The average capacity factor of units being installed today is around 30% As you indicate, it isn't just when the wind is blowing, it's the speed at which it blows as the turbine output curve varies with wind speed. There is also the question of air density; i.e., hot days with lesss dense air produces less electricity.
In the extremely unlikely event that all the millions of wind turbines needed to supply the world's energy were manufactured and installed and operating as designed, would we be surprised to hear environmentalists rail against them on account of natural wind patterns being interfered with? It's a moot point. Environmentalism as it pertains to wind/solar power has nothing to do with the environment, and everything to do with hastening the decline of western civ, especially America.
This presentation has good information related to the wind energy sector... Wind energy represents nearly 5% of the US electrical generation and is targeted to reach 20% in the future. Pacific Crest Transformers manufactures liquid-filled distribution transformers for various industry verticals, wind sector being one of them. Visit the website for more on wind energy.
pacificcresttrans 2 years ago
The capacity factor may be 30% (the wind blows only 30% of the time) but the capacify value, the actual output of a turbine, is less than 14% name plate 80% of the time. This is because the wind may blow only 30% of the time, but of that 30% of time the wind blows, 80% of that time it blow below the maximum speed needed for name plate output. Thus you can now triple the number of turbines needed.
jrwakefield 2 years ago
Many units have capacity factors well below 30% because of the factors you mention. The average capacity factor of units being installed today is around 30% As you indicate, it isn't just when the wind is blowing, it's the speed at which it blows as the turbine output curve varies with wind speed. There is also the question of air density; i.e., hot days with lesss dense air produces less electricity.
Thanks for your comment.
dddusmma 2 years ago
In the extremely unlikely event that all the millions of wind turbines needed to supply the world's energy were manufactured and installed and operating as designed, would we be surprised to hear environmentalists rail against them on account of natural wind patterns being interfered with? It's a moot point. Environmentalism as it pertains to wind/solar power has nothing to do with the environment, and everything to do with hastening the decline of western civ, especially America.
coolbreeze922 3 years ago