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| globalcalming [2025/02/06 13:34] – admin | globalcalming [2025/02/06 14:05] (current) – admin |
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| == steel == | == steel == |
| Company documents for the [[http://www.vestas.com/Admin/Public/DWSDownload.aspx?File=%2fFiles%2fFiler%2fEN%2fSustainability%2fLCA%2fLCAV90_juni_2006.pdf| Vestas V90-3.0 MW ]] cite a combined weight of 256 tons for the tower, nacelle and rotor. Most of this weight is steel, and more steel will be needed for the foundation. | Company documents for the [[http://www.vestas.com/Admin/Public/DWSDownload.aspx?File=%2fFiles%2fFiler%2fEN%2fSustainability%2fLCA%2fLCAV90_juni_2006.pdf| Vestas V90-3.0 MW ]] cite a combined weight of 256 tons for the tower, nacelle and rotor. Most of this weight is steel, and more steel will be needed for the foundation. |
| Let's work with an easy number of 0.1 kg of steel per Watt of generation capacity, and also assume a 25 year lifetime for the wind turbine and tower. To produce 16 TW we need 50 TW capacity in operation, and about 2 TW of capacity demolished, recycled and installed every year. We therefore need 2x10^11^ kg of steel per year. Current annual global steel production is 8x10^11^ kg (requiring .5 TW for production). Thus we anticipate needing 1/4 of the world steel production, and at least .125 TW to produce that steel, to sustain 16 TW of wind power production. | Let's work with an easy number of 0.1 kg of steel per Watt of generation capacity, and also assume a 25 year lifetime for the wind turbine and tower. To produce 16 TW we need 50 TW capacity in operation, and about 2 TW of capacity demolished, recycled and installed every year. We therefore need 2x10<sup>11</sup> kg of steel per year. Current annual global steel production is 8x10<sup>11</sup> kg (requiring .5 TW for production). Thus we anticipate needing 1/4 of the world steel production, and at least .125 TW to produce that steel, to sustain 16 TW of wind power production. |
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| As an American you will need about 30 kW capacity to supply your ''total'' power needs of 10 kW. | As an American you will need about 30 kW capacity to supply your //total// power needs of 10 kW. |
| That works out to be 3000 kg of steel committed in wind turbines, on your behalf. This weight is | That works out to be 3000 kg of steel committed in wind turbines, on your behalf. This weight is |
| equivalent to that of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummer| Hummer]] automobile. | equivalent to that of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummer| Hummer]] automobile. |
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| ##Here is a 1997 document citing ##[[http://www.windpower.org/media(444,1033)/the_energy_balance_of_modern_wind_turbines,_1997.pdf | ##0.1 kg of steel per Watt of generation capacity ]] (for 1.65 MW tower). | Here is a 1997 document citing [[http://www.windpower.org/media(444,1033)/the_energy_balance_of_modern_wind_turbines,_1997.pdf | 0.1 kg of steel per Watt of generation capacity ]] (for 1.65 MW tower). |
| == copper == | == copper == |
| [[http://www.infra.kth.se/fms/utbildning/lca/projects%202006/Group%2007%20(Wind%20turbine).pdf | Life cycle assessment of a wind turbine]] divulges that the Vestas V90-3.0 MW has as 8.5 ton generator, of which 35% is copper. This gives a number very close to 1 gram of copper per Watt of generating capacity (from the generator alone). 50 TW of wind power capacity requires 50 Tg of copper just for generators. [[http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/103/5/1209 | Metal stocks and sustainability ]] states that the USGS estimates total recoverable copper on Earth to be 1000 Tg. (400 Tg has been mined so far, and presumably most is in use). So 5% of all the world's copper, currently in use and potentially mined, is needed just for the generator component. (Yes, we do have a copper supply problem looming: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_copper | peak copper]]). | [[http://www.infra.kth.se/fms/utbildning/lca/projects%202006/Group%2007%20(Wind%20turbine).pdf | Life cycle assessment of a wind turbine]] divulges that the Vestas V90-3.0 MW has as 8.5 ton generator, of which 35% is copper. This gives a number very close to 1 gram of copper per Watt of generating capacity (from the generator alone). 50 TW of wind power capacity requires 50 Tg of copper just for generators. [[http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/103/5/1209 | Metal stocks and sustainability ]] states that the USGS estimates total recoverable copper on Earth to be 1000 Tg. (400 Tg has been mined so far, and presumably most is in use). So 5% of all the world's copper, currently in use and potentially mined, is needed just for the generator component. (Yes, we do have a copper supply problem looming: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_copper | peak copper]]). |
| These projections are more modest than the 16 TW examples above. Keep in mind that, | These projections are more modest than the 16 TW examples above. Keep in mind that, |
| in generating electricity, fossil fuel energy consumption is 2 to 3 times the electrical energy | in generating electricity, fossil fuel energy consumption is 2 to 3 times the electrical energy |
| production (the rest of the energy being lost as waste heat). So, coincidently, the fossil fuel offset provided by wind energy is close to the capacity of the wind turbine. | production (the rest of the energy being lost as waste heat). So, coincidentally, the fossil fuel offset provided by wind energy is close to the capacity of the wind turbine. |
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| The following figure shows various '''production''' projections; '''capacity''' would need to be about 3 times as large: | The following figure shows various //production// projections; //capacity// would need to be about 3 times as large: |
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| {{:globalcalming:WindProjections.png}} | {{:globalcalming:WindProjections.png}} |
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| * 2007 (year end) U.S. Capacity: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power#Utilization_of_wind_power | 16.8 GW]], producing about 5.6 GW | * 2007 (year end) U.S. Capacity: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power#Utilization_of_wind_power | 16.8 GW]], producing about 5.6 GW |
| * 2007 (year end) Global Capacity: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power#Utilization_of_wind_power |93.8 GW]], producing about 31.3 GW | * 2007 (year end) Global Capacity: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power#Utilization_of_wind_power |93.8 GW]], producing about 31.3 GW |
| * 2010 World Wind Energy Association: [[http://www.wwindea.org/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=167&Itemid=43 |160 GW ]] capacity, producing about 53 GW | * 2010 World Wind Energy Association: [[http://www.wwindea.org/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=167&Itemid=43 |160 GW ]] capacity, producing about 53 GW |
| * 2020 Shell ''Blueprint'' global production projection: 290 GW production | * 2020 Shell ''Blueprint'' global production projection: 290 GW production |
| * 2020 Lester Brown's ''Plan B'' (global): 3000 GW capacity, producing about 1000 GW | * 2020 Lester Brown's ''Plan B'' (global): 3000 GW capacity, producing about 1000 GW |
| * 2030 DOE [[ http://www.20percentwind.org/20p.aspx?page=Report | "20% Wind Energy by 2030" (US)]]: ~300 GW capacity, producing about 132 GW | * 2030 DOE [[ http://www.20percentwind.org/20p.aspx?page=Report | "20% Wind Energy by 2030" (US)]]: ~300 GW capacity, producing about 132 GW |
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| === Environmental Impacts of Wind Farms === | === Environmental Impacts of Wind Farms === |
| == Traditional Environmental Impact Concerns == | == Traditional Environmental Impact Concerns == |
| Not everybody thinks wind farms are desirable (and for some very good reasons): | Not everybody thinks wind farms are desirable (and for some very good reasons): |
| * [[http://www.savewesternny.org/index.html | Wind Farm Madness ]] | * [[http://www.savewesternny.org/index.html | Wind Farm Madness ]] |
| * [[http://www.aweo.org/ProblemWithWind.html | A problem with wind power ]] | * [[http://www.aweo.org/ProblemWithWind.html | A problem with wind power ]] |
| * [[http://www.wvmcre.org/ | Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy ]] | * [[http://www.wvmcre.org/ | Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy ]] |
| == Weather impacts of a simulated 10 GW wind farm within Oklahoma == | == Weather impacts of a simulated 10 GW wind farm within Oklahoma == |
| Somnath Baidya Roy, Steve Pacala and Robert L. Walko (2004) [[ http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2004/2004JD004763.shtml | Can Large Windfarms Affect Local Meteorology? ]] J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos. VOL. 109, D19101. | Somnath Baidya Roy, Steve Pacala and Robert L. Walko (2004) [[ http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2004/2004JD004763.shtml | Can Large Windfarms Affect Local Meteorology? ]] J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos. VOL. 109, D19101. |
| == Simulations with WRF == | == Simulations with WRF == |
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| Three years after this page was constructed, at last, with help from my colleagues, we have completed our [[http://12characters.net/saga/ | Windfarm Precip Project]]. | Three years after this page was constructed, at last, with help from my colleagues, we have completed our [[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/231078334_The_effect_of_a_giant_wind_farm_on_precipitation_in_a_regional_climate_model#fullTextFileContent |The effect of a giant wind farm on precipitation in a regional climate model ]]. Here is a [[https://12characters.net/saga/ | figure dump ]]. |
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