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Japanese breakthrough will make wind power cheaper than nuclear
A surprising aerodynamic innovation in wind turbine design called the 'wind lens' could triple the output of a typical wind turbine, making it less costly than nuclear power.
Mon, Aug 29 2011 at 2:47 AM
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Snapshot from video
NOTE: Some major wind projects like the proposed TWE Carbon Valley project in Wyoming are already pricing in significantly lower than coal power -- $80 per MWh for wind versus $90 per MWh for coal -- and that is without government subsidies using today's wind turbine technology.
The International Clean Energy Analysis (ICEA) gateway estimates that the U.S. possesses 2.2 million km2 of high wind potential (Class 3-7 winds) — about 850,000 square miles of land that could yield high levels of wind energy. This makes the U.S. something of a Saudi Arabia for wind energy, ranked third in the world for total wind energy potential.
Let's say we developed just 20 percent of those wind resources — 170,000 square miles (440,000 km2) or an area roughly 1/4 the size of Alaska — we could produce a whopping 8.7 billion megawatt hours of electricity each year (based on a theoretical conversion of six 1.5 MW turbines per km2 and an average output of 25 percent. (1.5 MW x 365 days x 24 hrs x 25% = 3,285 MWh's).
The United States uses about 26.6 billion MWh's, so at the above rate we could satisfy a full one-third of our total annual energy needs. (Of course, this assumes the concurrent deployment of a nationwide Smart Grid that could store and disburse the variable sources of wind power as needed using a variety of technologies — gas or coal peaking, utility scale storage via batteries or fly-wheels, etc).
Now what if a breakthrough came along that potentially tripled the energy output of those turbines? You see where I'm going. We could in theory supply the TOTAL annual energy needs of the U.S. simply by exploiting 20 percent of our available wind resources.
Well, such a breakthrough has been made, and it's called the "wind lens."
Imagine: no more dirty coal power, no more mining deaths, no more nuclear disasters, no more polluted aquifers as a result of fracking. Our entire society powered by the quiet "woosh" of a wind turbine. Kyushu University's wind lens turbine is one example of the many innovations happening right now that could in the near future make this utopian vision a reality.
Yes, it's a heck of a lot of wind turbines (about 2,640,000) but the U.S. with its endless miles of prairie and agricultural land is one of the few nations that could actually deploy such a network of wind turbines without disrupting the current productivity of the land (Russia and China also come to mind). It would also be a win-win for states in the highest wind area — the Midwest — which has been hard hit by the recession. And think of the millions upon millions of jobs that would be created building a 21st century energy distribution system free of the shackles of ever-diminishing fossil fuel supplies.
It's also important to point out that growth in wind power capacity is perfectly symbiotic with projected growth in electric vehicles. EV battery packs can soak up wind power produced during the night, helping to equalize the curve of daytime energy demand. So the controversial investment currently being entertained by President Obama to pipe oil down from the Canadian Tar Sands would — in my utopian vision — be a moot point.
It is indeed a lofty vision, but the technology we need is now in our reach. And think of the benefits of having our power production fed by a resource that is both free and unlimited. One downside often cited by advocates of coal and gas power is that wind turbines require a lot more maintenence than a typical coal or gas power plant. But in a lagging economy this might just be wind power's biggest upside — it will create lots and lots of permanent jobs, sparking a new cycle of economic growth in America.
Editor's note: Want more info? Karl breaks down the math in his next post.
The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.
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I couldn't agree more. I live in South Texas and we have 360 days of sunshine (solar power?) and 365 windy days! The whole state could literally run off of these amazing energy ideas, but alas...we use oil oil oil. So sad.
Wind energy does pay for its self. It is expensive to manufacture and build these giant wind turbines. This is why they wind turbin companies are going out of business.
Is it possible to put 6 of the turbines on a single square km?
But i don't want these ugly contraptions obstructing my view of the beautiful Oregon landscape!
We have to look at a Nuclear power station that powers YOUR house! I don't really want that in MY back yard! - Unless you are doing everything in your ability to reduce your energy consumption then I have no sympathy for your view.
bye, bye birds
wer is the shaft connected?
y the middle part is not connected ?
It appears to me that the inner part runs on a track inside the outer part.
it would appear that so many comments get a little off track perhaps what we really need is a more responsible consumer attitude about how we consume energy and the products we buy and create that require energy to function ! BLAH,BLAH,BLAH
Think, people, THINK! Every time I see some crazy greenie scheme to funnel ENERGY from solar panels/mirrors/other magic from space, I can't help but spew my coffee over my keyboard. WHAT WILL 500 GIGAWATTS OF THIS POWER DO TO THE TEMPERATURE OF THE PLANET?!
The same idiots that want to take away our cars and want us to ride a horse are funneling massive HEAT to the planet for some stupid space-based solar power system. Most amusing.....
That windmill LOOKS awesome. But i always thought that the cost to build things like that would always outweigh the money you get in return.
I build a windmill at my house out of a car alternator, it works great, but still not cheaper then just paying for electricity. More pictures here: http://davewirth.blogspot.com/2009/10/windmill_1420.html
Switch to Solar in the Summer. Then you'll have the best of both --wind power and solar power. Seems like a good marriage of technologies--a hybrid power generator. We've done that here in the States already. So, it's your turn over there in India. Va Pour Sa!
Yeah, but if a windmill breaks, you don't have to evacuate a town and worry about being exposed to dangerous nuclear radiation like you would if a nuclear plant melts down.
Sounds feasible, but a disaster for the environment, what about installing solar Panels on every roof of all the houses that exist, ie Electrical companies must replace House Roofs with solar panels with a electrical bill discount to every building concerned instead of covering the country side with wind towers and hundreds of acres of land covered in Solar Panels.
What about the environmental impact on birds and insects? Those prairies are huge migration routes.
this would be great in every state.
sheer genius and why have our representatives not announced this breakthrough? because big oil dumps a boatload of donations to every one of them so you see where their priorities lie,not with the American citizen for sure
How about a few facts on how this new lens works.
TransWest LLC and the DOE are building a windfarm in CO and the electricity generated will travel on high-voltage power lines from CO to Las Vegas-expected completion date is 2014. It's supposed to power Vegas, Los Angeles and San Diego. TransWest is owned by CO billionaire Anspach (or something close) the guy that was financing Michael Jackson's comeback tour. Let's see how that turns out.
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