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Author Topic: Study suggests real-world generating capacity of wind farms overestimated  (Read 102 times)

taxed

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Study suggests real-world generating capacity of wind farms overestimated
« on: February 25, 2013, 08:28:09 PM »
And a Harvard professor no less:

http://phys.org/news/2013-02-real-world-capacity-farms-large-scales.html

Quote
Each wind turbine creates behind it a "wind shadow" in which the air has been slowed down by drag on the turbine's blades. The ideal wind farm strikes a balance, packing as many turbines onto the land as possible, while also spacing them enough to reduce the impact of these wind shadows. But as wind farms grow larger, they start to interact, and the regional-scale wind patterns matter more.


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walkstall

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Re: Study suggests real-world generating capacity of wind farms overestimated
« Reply #1 on: February 25, 2013, 09:05:12 PM »
Quote from: taxed on February 25, 2013, 08:28:09 PM
And a Harvard professor no less:

http://phys.org/news/2013-02-real-world-capacity-farms-large-scales.html


Today the good wife had Doc. appointment.  On the way into town we pass two wind farms of about 15 to 20 turbine's each.  Of the 2 farms there was only 4 turbine's moving.   There was a 10 to 15 MPH wind all day.    WHY put up more if we are not using what we have.   
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Solar

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Re: Study suggests real-world generating capacity of wind farms overestimated
« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2013, 02:29:22 AM »
There is sooo much more to the wind turbine issue, he's right though, there is a shadow drag/resistance.
There is also a load resistance factor, even though these things are turning, it can be an illusion, the more demand/load placed on a turbine, the more wind is needed.
Take a bicycle and the person peddling along exerting little effort to maintain 7 MPH, but a hill comes along, he has to increase output considerably to maintain his speed, a wind turbine works the same way, if demand is light (plenty of current being generated by other sources) the turbine produces fine, but when demand is placed on it, it needs a lot more wind to keep it moving.

Point is, you can't turn up the wind when needed, and if demand is light, you don't need them.
In other words, it's all freakin feel good hype!

Did I make that clear, or do I need to expand on it?
It's 2:30 am and I'm not real alert yet. :blink:
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