Wind Energy: the end to electricity bills?

[Auditor #9]

In today's Irish Times Business Section there is a report on Irish Company Airtricity's activities in America, well, on an Airtricity subsidiary. The costs of installing turbines is what caught my eye.

The quoted cost is €1.5 million for one megawatt(1 MW); the article states that the proposed wind farm in the US will be 50MW capacity supplying 30,000 homes. (About 20 turbines)

Given these figures above I believe communities should buy turbines for their locality and instead of forking out on average €50 monthly to the ESB, we pay for the turbines on a hire-purchase scheme until the turbine is ours. For a group of 600 homes it would take 4.16 years (based on the figures above) to cover the cost of a turbine. The machine needs an overhaul every 25 years and there is some maintenance costs too which couldn't amount to much.

The benefits would include
a)reduced cost of dependence on imports putting more cash into the exchequer
b)reduced emissions
c)reduced costs of social welfare supplements to pensioners etc.
d)less stress for the lower paid and less well off and all the attendent problems of that stress over bills

Why do we not do this?

[johnfás]

In general are the wattage quoted by these companies in regard to wind energy not the maximum output of the turbine, an output which it is near impossible to maintain, certainly on a consistent basis?

[locke]

Because in the average community, everyone will be in favour, but nobody will want it near their house.

A compromise location will be agreed. It will be put at the bottom aof a valley because it has minimal visual impact. This location will of course provide no wind.

[joel]

In today's Irish Times Business Section there is a report on Irish Company Airtricity's activities in America, well, on an Airtricity subsidiary. The costs of installing turbines is what caught my eye.

The quoted cost is €1.5 million for one megawatt(1 MW); the article states that the proposed wind farm in the US will be 50MW capacity supplying 30,000 homes. (About 20 turbines)

Given these figures above I believe communities should buy turbines for their locality and instead of forking out on average €50 monthly to the ESB, we pay for the turbines on a hire-purchase scheme until the turbine is ours. For a group of 600 homes it would take 4.16 years (based on the figures above) to cover the cost of a turbine. The machine needs an overhaul every 25 years and there is some maintenance costs too which couldn't amount to much.

The benefits would include
a)reduced cost of dependence on imports putting more cash into the exchequer
b)reduced emissions
c)reduced costs of social welfare supplements to pensioners etc.
d)less stress for the lower paid and less well off and all the attendent problems of that stress over bills

Why do we not do this?

To some extent, i think it is political reasons - the same reason they didn't want to give Dublin buses! They'd rather see the city grind to a halt, rather than lose the Free Market!

Renewable energy poses a threat to energy suppliers and the Nuclear industry. Hence the campaign for nuclear power.

[EvotingMachine0197]

In general are the wattage quoted by these companies in regard to wind energy not the maximum output of the turbine, an output which it is near impossible to maintain, certainly on a consistent basis?

The output is quoted at a specified wind speed. I think it's about 8 knots or so, which is not too high (I'll check again later). They usually have massive gearboxes to convert the torque and produce much higher revs. for the turbine.

[Gary]

Scríobh Auditor #9

Why do we not do this?

Sadly its not that easy at present.
Firstly planning is almost impossible when you take into consideration factors such as "Bird sanctuary's " "Acceptable noise" "Aviation" "TV signals" "Visibility"
For communities its also a very high risk investment, anything up to €500 for a survey to see if its viable in that area, raising this sort of capital isn't easy.
Then as you say, its 1.5 big ones per MW... add legal costs/consultant costs etc etc onto this as well..
Site ownership will be a problem also. Lots of European countries have common land which is used within the community, this isn't the case in Ireland. So land will either have to be bought or rented. More money, more problems .

Organisation skills/Business skills in the community??, is there people in the community that are committed enough to manage and see the project through...

We should really be looking to Denmark with regards this, they seem to know what the story is.

[Gombeen]

We should really be looking to Denmark with regards this, they seem to know what the story is.

Especially considering that our potential wind resources would be much bigger than theirs.

[Gary]

We should really be looking to Denmark with regards this, they seem to know what the story is.

Especially considering that our potential wind resources would be much bigger than theirs.

Aidhe, go cinnte

[QuizMaster]

You can easily get smaller units for a lot less money.
Hopefully with the Greens in government the grant which now covers solar and geothermal conversions will be extended to wind turbines.

[EvotingMachine0197]

GE 1.5MW datasheet

The power curve is on page 4.
20% (300KW) at 13 mph and full power (1.5MW) at 31 mph. Not bad.