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9 comments on Energy Journal Roundup: August 2009

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idontno on August 20, 2009 - 12:43pm Permalink | Subthread | Comments top

I went to an IEEE 2 day seminar for wind power. One of the things that the speaker emphasised is the need for class 3 winds. Class 3 winds only occur in the midwest and along the Gulf coast. Very little is ever said in these posts about the availablity of the class 3 winds.

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Nate Hagens on August 20, 2009 - 2:15pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

One of the things that the speaker emphasised is the need for class 3 winds.

Not true. Wind power does increase with cube of wind speed, but depending on circumstances you can produce adequate power with Class 2 or Class 4,5.

Class 3 winds only occur in the midwest and along the Gulf coast.

Not true.


Source: NREL

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Gail the Actuary on August 20, 2009 - 3:30pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I would expect the payback period for the cost of the wind turbine and installation would be horribly long--do you have any references regarding Class 2 wind?

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JonFreise on August 20, 2009 - 4:18pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

In the US, there is enough class 3+ wind to consume all investment for decades. The only people building in class 2 wind areas are the seriously lost!

The NREL report Nate's figure comes from is here. At the time that report was written class 3 wind was not yet commercial, but it is today. Clearly the stronger and more consistent the wind then the lower the EROI and the faster the payback. Class 3+ winds cover something like 30% of Minnesota, according to the report.

http://www.osti.gov/energycitations/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=5252760

And another report by Christina Archer and Mark Jacobson is here (nice graphics at the link):
http://www.stanford.edu/group/efmh/winds/global_winds.html

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9 comments on Energy Journal Roundup: August 2009

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