“But wind turbines are more than just an economic and geopolitical disaster. They are a menace to the environment.” My latest at Real Clear Energy.
“But wind turbines are more than just an economic and geopolitical disaster. They are a menace to the environment.” My latest at Real Clear Energy.
California was one of the first states to embrace wind turbines. One of their first “wind farms” was built in the Altamont Pass (famous for a deadly rock concert). While driving through the pass on multiple occasions I realized that the wind was blowing most productively when the power wasn’t needed. A “high pressure ridge” along the coast gives California its famous weather patterns. Heat in the San Juaquin/Sacramento valley builds over a period of days, resulting in a “local low pressure” (not the H and L on the weather maps) that draws in cool air from the high pressure ridge over the coast. AC demand is highest when the heat is building in the valley (no wind) then when the wind starts blowing, the valley cools down somewhat — reducing AC demand (and spinning the wind turbines). So the non-wind electricity demand must be met from conventional sources and the wind provided electricity occurs when the electricity demand is moderating. Seems like there’s no net benefit since the production must be available for peak demand. Simply dumb.
There isn’t an engineer on the planet that would recommend these eyesores for base load energy.
There have been many well researched and written papers on useful life, actual real world output vs. advertised output, lack of ability to cost effectively recycle them at the end of their useful life, etc., etc., so I won’t waste space here reposting them. It is an easy chore to search online for them.
Wind farms have properly been renamed ‘subsidy farms’ by the better wags among us. Without the large subsidies they would be a sinkhole for utility income and put them out of business. “Green energy” is nothing but a humongous grift and scam IMO.