Facts About Wind Turbines
It is important that you know the FACTS about wind turbines.
To be blunt, without the general public subsidising wind farms - THEY WOULD NOT EXIST!
For further research on Co2 Emissions and Financial Findings -download this Wind Farm Facts & Figures Document
To be blunt, without the general public subsidising wind farms - THEY WOULD NOT EXIST!
For further research on Co2 Emissions and Financial Findings -download this Wind Farm Facts & Figures Document
Wind Farm Energy Output:
• no energy is produced when wind speeds are less than 4 and greater than 25 metres per second
• maximum output achievable is only 30% of rated capacity (due to the vagaries of wind patterns)
• there is a constant mismatch between supply and demand - when demand is at it's highest in high pressure weather situations the wind tends not to blow much, if at all.
• for example, in 2004 Denmark produced 20% of its' electricity from wind turbines but consumed only 6%
• in the above example the unconsumed electricity (84% of the total) was sold at a loss to Norway!!
• because of the variability of winds back up or standby electricity generating capacity is required
• this consists of fossil fuel plants which have to operate inefficiently and therefore produce more CO2 than wind power saves!
Global Warming:
• CO2 emissions saved are claimed (by the BWEA) to equate to 0.86 tonnes per MWh of electricity produced
• this assumes replacement of coal fired generation with 'carbon free' wind generation
• in reality because energy is produced by a mix of generating types the actual figure is 0.43 tonnes or less (government now use this figure) per MWh
• for a typical 10kW wind turbine running at 30% maximum capacity this equates to 11.3 tonnes of CO2 saved (calculated as 10 (kW) x 24 x 365 x 30% x 0.43 / 1000 (to convert kW to MW) )
• the UK CO2 output is around 500 million tonnes - i.e. a 10kW turbine 'saves' 0.000002% of the UK CO2 output
Economics:
• wind power is one of the most expensive forms of electricity generation
• onshore wind costs 4.8p per kWh to produce, offshore wind 6.3p (both excluding the cost of standby generation)
• combine cycle gas turbines (CCGT) cost 2.5p, nuclear 2.4p
• the governments renewable energy strategy paper (of July 2009) admitted that over the next 20 years Britain's 'green' energy would cost up to 17 times more than it would save in CO2 emissions (£70 Bn cost £4 Bn saving)!!
• this would be paid for by household electricity bills increasing by up to £700 per year by the end of this period
• wind farms get up to 3 times as much in subsidy as they do from selling electricity
• Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) are the means through which these subsidies are paid to producers
• wind power is one of the most expensive forms of electricity generation
• onshore wind costs 4.8p per kWh to produce, offshore wind 6.3p (both excluding the cost of standby generation)
• combine cycle gas turbines (CCGT) cost 2.5p, nuclear 2.4p
• the governments renewable energy strategy paper (of July 2009) admitted that over the next 20 years Britain's 'green' energy would cost up to 17 times more than it would save in CO2 emissions (£70 Bn cost £4 Bn saving)!!
• this would be paid for by household electricity bills increasing by up to £700 per year by the end of this period
• wind farms get up to 3 times as much in subsidy as they do from selling electricity
• Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) are the means through which these subsidies are paid to producers
Wrightington Residents Against Turbines (The WRAT Pack)