Wind Graphic
Wind Turbine Generator Porterfield/Chickering/Photo Researchers, Inc.
Wind Energy as a Significant Source of Electricity
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R. Gerald Nix
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
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Wind energy is a commercially available renewable energy source, with state-of-the-art wind plants producing electricity at about $0.05 per kWh.
However, even at that production cost, wind-generated electricity is not yet fully cost-competitive with coal- or natural-gas-produced electricity for the bulk electricity market.
The wind is a proven energy source; it is not resource-limited in the United States, and there are no insolvable technical constraints.
This paper describes current and historical technology, characterizes existing trends, and describes the research and development required to reduce the cost of wind-generated electricity to full competitiveness with fossil-fuel-generated electricity for the bulk electricity market.
Potential markets are described.
To read the full paper, please visit the Palm Springs Wind Energy website:
http://www.palmsprings.com/services/wind1.html#1
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Cleantechnica.com: Wind power in China – set to boom by 2020
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“Last year, Beijing-based energy consultancy Azure International predicted that China would install 514 MW of offshore wind power over the following 3-4 years.
Furthermore, by 2020, it predicts that China will have invested $100 billion in offshore wind and will have installed up to 30,000 MW. “That’s equal to all of the onshore wind farms currently installed in China, already the world’s largest market for wind power.” Technology Review writes.
“This year, China’s National Energy Bureau said China intends to start construction on 1,000 MW of offshore wind power projects.” http://cleantechnica.com/world-wind-power/3/
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EnergyBoom: Wind power in Germany – 52 Gigawatts by 2020
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“Germany has a plan to boost its [total] renewable energy production to 35% of the country’s energy consumption by 2020; 50% by 2030; and 80% by 2050.
The country has well-developed solar and onshore wind industries. A renewable energy area that is largely untapped is: offshore wind power. Currently Germany only generates 48 megawatts of offshore wind power. In comparison onshore wind presently provides 27 gigawatts of energy.
The administration has a set a target of producing 25 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2020; the Chancellor’s new program will go a long way to satisfying this goal.” (courtesy EnergyBoom.com)
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