The Problem with Wind Energy
This is an anlysis of the current strategy of wind energy generation in Britain in 2013.
Energy Currently Produced and Consumed in Britain
Currently Britain produces 352.7 billion kWh (2010 est.) of electricity
Source: CIA World Factbook 2013
Currently Britain consumes 325.8 billion kWh (2009 est.) of electricity
Source: CIA World Factbook 2013
This in the 2013 population of 63,395,574 people is 5139 kwh person/year
This in the 2050 population of 77,000,000 is 4231 kwh/person/year
75.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) came from fossil fuels.
Source: CIA World Factbook 2013
Current Wind Turbine Numbers, Capacity and Production in 2013
3945 onshore turbines with a capacity of 6146 MW
= 1.56 MW (1560 kWh) per turbine
1075 offshore turbines with a capacity of 3653 MW
= 3.3 MW (3300 kWh) per turbine
This allows for an average capacity per turbine of
= 1.95 MW (1950 kWh) per turbine
5020 onshore and offshore wind turbines produced
= 24,414,274,000 kWh / year
Each turbine generates 4,863,401 kWh / year
Source: http://www.renewableuk.com/en/renewable-energy/wind-energy/uk-wind-energy-database/index.cfm
Comparison of Production of Energy
24,414,274,000 kWh / 352,700,000,000 kWh x 100 = 7%
Wind power currently provides about 7 % of the energy produced in Britain.
Allowing for the reduction in CO2 emissions for Britain to achieve its UN Climate change Agreements by 34% by 2020 and by 80% by 2050 from its 1990 emission levels.
100% - 80%
= 20% x 352,700,000,000 kWh
= 70,540,000,000 kWh production between 2020 and 2050
Allowing for wind generation to increase by 2,000,000 kWh / year between 2013 and 2050
= 24,414,274,000 kWh + 74,000,000 kWh
= 24,488,274,000 kWh
=24,488,274,000 kWh / 70,540,000,000 kWh x 100 = 35% of theof the energy produced in Britain.
The Cost of Wind Energy
The total cost per installed kW of wind power capacity typically varies from approximately 900 €/kW to 1,150 €/kW
Source:http://www.ewea.org/fileadmin/ewea_documents/documents/
publications/WETF/Facts_Volume_2.pdf
If the onshore and offshore wind turbines produce enough energy for Britain then we would need 70,540,000,000 kWh production between 2020 and 2050 and approximately 15,000 installed wind turbines.
This gives a maximum cost for installed kWh.
= 81,121,000,000,000 Euros = £ 68,202,886,355,000
Operational and Maintenance costs during lifetime
Based on experiences from Germany, Spain, the UK and Denmark, O&M costs are, in general, estimated to be at a level of approximately 1.2 to 1.5 c€/kWh of produced wind power seen over the total lifetime.
Source:http://www.ewea.org/fileadmin/ewea_documents/documents/
publications/WETF/Facts_Volume_2.pdf
If the onshore and offshore wind turbines last 37 years between 2020 and 2050.
This gives a total cost for operation and maintenance / kWh
= 105,810,000,000 Euros = £ 89,049,061,140
The cost of the Energy generated by wind power
Costs range between approximately 5 and 6.5 c€/kWh at medium wind positions, indicating that a doubling of the interest rate induces an increase in production costs of 1.5 c€/kWh. In low wind areas, the costs are significantly higher, 6.5-9 c€/kWh, while production costs range between 4 and 5.5 c€/kWh in coastal areas.
Source:http://www.ewea.org/fileadmin/ewea_documents/documents/
publications/WETF/Facts_Volume_2.pdf
If the onshore and offshore wind turbines produce enough energy for Britain then we would need 70,540,000,000 kWh production between 2020 and 2050.
This gives a maximum cost for energy generated kWh.
= 634860000000 Euros
= £ 533,761,719,300
The final cost then to achieve a 100% energy production rate for Britain by offshore and onshore wind power generation for the time period between 2020 and 2050.
= £ 68,825,697,135,440
This equates to £ 893,840 per head of population in 2050.
Conclusion
The wind turbine solution has been the fastest method of providing some energy to Britain and allowing it to comply with its UN Climate Agreements in relation to reduction in fossil fuel use by 2050.The current analysis however indicates that wind power will never be the only solution to the energy need of Britain even when the 20% economy of 2020 to 2050 to meet carbon emission standards is used as the target energy requirement.
None of the energy produced by wind energy will be stored to allow the energy system to have a longer life, lower operating costs and greater economy.
The link to the national grid will also become unfeasible as the national grid is decommissioned to isolate and then shut down the existing fossil fuel powered generation stations.
The wind energy should be collected and stored by smaller generators at each dwelling in Britain linked to a battery storage system.
Wind power, located remotely from the location where it is needed in Britain is therefore a short term and not a complete sustainable solution.
Ian K Whittaker
Websites:
https://sites.google.com/site/architecturearticles
Email: iankwhittaker@gmail.com
11/09/2013
14/10/2020
775 words over 2 pages