Pro's and Con's of wind turbines

monkey_boy

monkey_boy

monkey_boy

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Joined
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Posts
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Location
Leicester UK
Hi All.

I'm hoping that some of you can help. I would like to know more about wind turbines, their benefits and their drawbacks. In particular I would like to know what 'eco' benefits they offer and how they measure up to the renewable competition.

Thanks!
 
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The biggest draw back is size. You need land and a big pole turbine.
Depends where you live but you need a minimum(iirc) average of 6.2mph at the height you have it, higher the better.
Other than that works in same way ad Solar PV in regards to FIT and feeding it back to the grid.

Again iirc the skystreme 3.7 was the best price/bang at the time I researched. At around 12k and was comparable to PV in price. PV has dropped in price a little where wind hasn't. Obviously if you are in a high average wind area or north where PV production drops off, turbines are better.

Also not sure on planning permission.
 
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Draw backs would be you dependant on wind. No wind no power. Blowing a gale out their? Then its too windy for wind turbine to work.
 
The biggest drawback is that they never produce anything like the power they could in theory. Over the country only around 10% of installed output is ever produced. So every windturbine needs backup (gas / coal / nuclear) for when the wind doesn't blow!
 
Mel_P said:
The biggest drawback is that they never produce anything like the power they could in theory. Over the country only around 10% of installed output is ever produced. So every windturbine needs backup (gas / coal / nuclear) for when the wind doesn't blow!
Click to expand...

You can in theory store the energy when the wind is blowing so that you can use that when it isn't. For example power a hydroelectric system to pump water back uphill when you are producing excess electricity so that you can use that power later.
 
The only question that I really feel needs to be asked is whether or not they save more energy throughout their lifetime, compared to alternative methods of energy production, than the amount of energy used in their production. From the limited amount of research I have done on the topic, and the experts I have spoken to (two, to be precise :D), the answer is not so good.

That being said, I think they look incredible and the NIMBY argument just isn't good enough for me. :)
 
Are you talking about turbines for a house or more commercial size?

If your looking for info for an assignment, then have a look at:-
The british wind energy association,
business green,
The guardian energy pages are not bad for info.
British farming forums.
 
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Make sure you're actually allowed to have one in your area, my aunt was told she couldn't have one by the council as where she lives is a known "bat-area"

Spoke to a friend of mine who's dad installs wind turbines at peoples homes, he said he's never ever heard of bats getting confused by turbines and flying into them.

So where the council got that idea from, I don't know
 
Pros - They make windturbine makers a fortune.

Cons - They dont work.

You would be better getting a hamster and wiring its wheel up to a dynamo.
 
This reminds me of a debate on another forum when someone suggested that cars should have wind turbines on top so they could power themselves while driving, much hilarity and rage ensued.
 
Problems with wind turbines:

noisy, ugly, expensive, dependent on wind (so no guarantee), Maintence and construction and transport costs have to be calculated in to the full energy cost of the device, which they never are. If it was not for government subsidy they probably would not be built.
 
I think they bad for the environment, it takes more energy to construct, ship and maintain them than they ever produce? (i have nothing more than hear say to back my comment but would be interested if anyone can link anything)
 
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