The Price of 'Clean' Energy

[Ravang]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080816/ap_on_re_us/a_bitter_wind

I've never thought about the effect of wind turbines, I wouldn't want any clogging up the sky around me :-/...

[a1]

The cleanest energy is antimatter.


Well I would prefer solar and nuclear to wind energy.

[machineman9]

The cleanest energy is antimatter.

Economically speaking though....  ;D


They are quite interesting to see, but windmills just don't totally cut it for me.

I remember on the radio someone criticising a new coal powered plant saying that it would be better to invest in solar and wind power. Obviously that man cared more about the idea than practical usage. Too expensive to build and maintain, very unpredictable and require too many to make anything worth using.


a1 may be with Antimatter, but personally I am choosing HHO electrolysis or nuclear fusion for now. Though CERN will always remain in my bookmarks. Question of many months ago... How does the expansion of the universe affect the density and or disposition od the Higgs field?

(Spelling mistake intended, as per the quote  :P )

[H]

Well I would prefer solar and nuclear to wind energy.

Those are essentially the same thing from different points of origin -- and we don't want to be too close to the wind of either.

8-)

[DaveSims]

This is just another "Not in my backyard" type thing, just like they had with nuclear power many years ago.  Where I live in Iowa wind farms are popping up everywhere, and their impact is not that bad.  I'd rather have fields of windmills than lines of dirty power plants.  If I owned more land, I'd let them build them.  I don't understand what is the complaint about the noise.  The A/C in my house makes more noise than the average windmill.

[expat]

At my place of work, we are surrounded by them. The next valley is full of them. I no longer hear them or notice them. I have never once seen the flicker that they are supposed to produce either. I can understand the chap when he says, "He hates the sight and he hates the sound", but

[Hagar]

Can't say I'm keen on the idea of these wind turbines. I'm not convinced they're as efficient, green or reliable as the "experts" would have me believe. We're not talking about one or two in a farmer's field or spare piece of land. To be any use you would need large numbers of them in so-called "wind farms". It's been a lot windier than usual around here so far this year but what happens when there's not enough to drive them? No wind, no power. After giving this a lot of thought I would prefer our local gas-fired power station to be converted to nuclear power.

PS. Would you want something like this in your back yard? I think not. :-/

[expat]

It's been a lot windier than usual around here so far this year but what happens when there's not enough to drive them? No wind, no power.

A null wind day, from the perspective of a person on the ground happens not that often. These things are set up on wind averages in certain areas and bearing in mind that you only need about 5kts to make on of these thing turn, in the right area, they can still produce power. Speed plays no or very little part in the power output. The gearing system in these beasts driving constant speed gearboxes is getting to be better and better with each new generation of model. Personally though, I would go nuclear, but that is another opinion.

Matt

[Hagar]

It's been a lot windier than usual around here so far this year but what happens when there's not enough to drive them? No wind, no power.

A null wind day, from the perspective of a person on the ground happens not that often. These things are set up on wind averages in certain areas and bearing in mind that you only need about 5kts to make on of these thing turn, in the right area, they can still produce power. Speed plays no or very little part in the power output. The gearing system in these beasts driving constant speed gearboxes is getting to be better and better with each new generation of model. Personally though, I would go nuclear, but that is another opinion.

Matt

I can only speak from my own observations. You have a lot more of these things than we do at the moment. I often pass a solitary wind turbine alongside the M25 which is a prominent landmark or blot on the landscape depending on your point of view.* More often than not it's completely stationary. I can't see how that can be much use to anyone.

*PS. That wind turbine is at Kings Langley. To give some idea of the size of these things it's taller than Nelson's Column. Hub height of 36 metres & a rotor diameter of 29 metres, giving a tip height of 50.5 metres.

[H]

Well, wind power may be a plus if generated from the top of our Presidential Range (NH's portion of the Appalachians, of which Mt. Washington is highest and known for ferocious winds/weather). The discussion also puts merit to my thought of a distribution/application method which is, essentially, a combination of the Westinghouse and Edision supply systems; this was most applicable to fringe areas that would be prone to commercial supply failures.
As to current nuclear installations, I suggest you start a little search on waste management as indicated by this entry.

8-)

[DaveSims]

I live in Iowa, where if the wind isn't blowing people go into a full blown panic.

[machineman9]

Would you want one of those in your back garden?

Or would you prefer a Large Hadron Collider under your feet?

Or a coal power station?

Or a giant nuclear power station cooling tube?



I'm with CERN

[H]

I live in Iowa, where if the wind isn't blowing people go into a full blown panic.

Having been through your area (most of the church installations were done in Minnesota) and stationed in Nebraska, I'd say that is more the occasion when the wind has them going in circles; if tornadoes only remained in one spot: windpower galore.
Obviously, some methods are more suited to certain areas than others. Waterwheels don't usually work so well on top of a desert mesa.

8-)

[DaveSims]

Would you want one of those in your back garden?

Or would you prefer a Large Hadron Collider under your feet?

Or a coal power station?

Or a giant nuclear power station cooling tube?



I'm with CERN

Wow  :o  Never seen one get anywhere near that speed.  The ones around here appear to control their speed by feathering those huge blades.  When they are under maintenance they do completely feather and stop turning.

[machineman9]

Wow  :o  Never seen one get anywhere near that speed.  The ones around here appear to control their speed by feathering those huge blades.  When they are under maintenance they do completely feather and stop turning.

Well according to the vid, if the brakes break, then all you can do is look from a distance.