National Wind Watch: Documents » Germany http://www.wind-watch.org/documents http://www.wind-watch.org/nwwlogo-white-50.jpg National Wind Watch: Documents » Germany http://www.wind-watch.org/documents 100 40 Industrial Wind Resource Library, from National Wind Watch Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:40:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 en Documents Wind power Wind energy Incidents and images of damage to wind energy converters Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:53:34 +0000 22 Jul 2008 Alt, Helmut “According to estimates by the German insurance association, GDV, a total of € 30 million were paid in premiums for insuring the wind machines compared to almost € 45 million paid in damages for plant outages (this corresponds to around 0.3 ct/kWh).”

From “The economics of wind energy within the generation mix” (”Energiewirtschaftliche Bedeutung der Windenergie im Stromerzeugungsmix”) [click to download]

]]> http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/incidents-and-images-of-damage-to-wind-energy-converters/ http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/?p=959 Documents Wind power Wind energy Balancing Fluctuating Wind Energy with Fossil-Fuel Power Stations Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:15:52 +0000 15 Jul 2008 Leonhard, W.; and Müller, K. ‘The simulation results show that even at this low penetration of wind energy, the infeed causes a hidden increase of the specific fuel consumption in remote fossil generating stations; in other words, they are now producing less electrical energy but with a higher fuel consumption and CO2- emissions per kWh. Substantial power reserves are necessary to guard against uncertainties of the wind power forecast and possible protective shut-downs of windfarms, which further strengthens the tendency towards a less efficient part-load-operation of generating units. Since the total generating capacity cannot be reduced in view of possible periods without wind, this could make investments in power stations unprofitable and endanger the future security of supply.

‘The results indicate that the frequent claims, electrical grids could be predominantly wind-supplied, are unrealistic. The simple reason is the discrepancy between the grid load and the variations of the spatial wind field; the grid load could only be modified by measures seriously affecting industrial activities (such as the temporary power cuts in the Californian energy crisis), while the wind field follows meteorological and aerodynamic laws and cannot be altered at all. By including wind power generation in the grid control, unpredictable power surges and high infeed to a lightly loaded grid could be mitigated, but this is not in the interest of the wind farm operators.

‘These effects might be reduced by spreading the “control energy” for wind over larger areas, which would require the legal obligations in Germany (EEG) for accepting this energy at high cost to be extended to other countries. It is unlikely that a European consensus can be reached, where countries with large hydro and pumped storage facilities would provide the needed control energy because they too may have to import thermally produced energy in dry years; there is already concern in the Scandinavian system regarding the fluctuations caused by the heavy windpower infeed and the local combinedheat- and-power plants in Denmark which require much control energy and might necessitate strengthening the high voltage grid; there are intervals when the grid operator is giving away surplus energy or paying dearly to cover power deficits. Europe-wide balancing of wind power from 25 000 MW offshore generation would definitely call for expanding the high voltage system, and transmission losses would also have to be taken into account.’

Electra, No. 204, October 2002

“Balancing Fluctuating Wind Energy with Fossil-Fuel Power Stations”

]]> http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/balancing-fluctuating-wind-energy-with-fossil-fuel-power-stations/ http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/?p=936 Documents Wind power Wind energy Industrial wind: a failure written in the European statistics Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:22:47 +0000 14 Dec 2007 Fédération Environnement Durable [from "Eolien industriel: un échec en filigrane dans les statistiques Européennes"]

Does large-scale development of industrial wind energy actually reduce the consumption of fossil fuels or emission of CO2?

Comparison of per-capita wind and thermal electricity production and CO2 emissions in Germany, Denmark, Spain, and France.

Germany — most industrial wind facilities in the world (18,400 MW in 2005) –
2005: 10.6 tonnes CO2 per capita, 6.4 tonnes from electricity
+190% per capita production from wind from 2000 to 2005
+9% per capita thermal electricity production from 2000 to 2005
+1% per capita CO2 from electricity 2000 to 2005

Denmark — highest percentage of industrial wind in the world (18% of production) –
2005: 9.3 tonnes CO2 per capita, 5.5 tonnes from electricity
+54% per capita production from wind from 2000 to 2005
−8% per capita thermal electricity production from 2000 to 2005
−11% per capita CO2 from electricity 2000 to 2005

Spain — second most industrial wind facilities in the world (10,000 MW in 2005) –
2005: 8.5 tonnes CO2 per capita, 3.8 tonnes from electricity
+317% per capita production from wind from 2000 to 2005
+41% per capita thermal electricity production from 2000 to 2005
+10% per capita CO2 from electricity 2000 to 2005

France — virtually no industrial wind (760 MW in 2005) –
2005: 6.6 tonnes CO2 per capita, 2.6 tonnes from electricity
+~0% per capita production from wind from 2000 to 2005
+19% per capita thermal electricity production from 2000 to 2005
−1% per capita CO2 from electricity 2000 to 2005

Telecharger “Eolien industriel: un échec en filigrane dans les statistiques Européennes”

]]> http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/industrial-wind-a-failure-written-in-the-european-statistics/ http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/industrial-wind-a-failure-written-in-the-european-statistics/ Documents Wind power Wind energy Wind Power in Germany — 2005 Mon, 24 Sep 2007 22:30:53 +0000 24 Sep 2007 Eon Netz 2006 Supplement to Wind Power 2005, with data from the year 2005.

Download “Wind Power in Germany”

]]> http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/wind-power-in-germany-2005/ http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/wind-power-in-germany-2005/ Documents Wind power Wind energy Bird losses at wind energy plants in Germany Tue, 18 Sep 2007 15:25:56 +0000 18 Sep 2007 Dürr, Tobias This table lists all dead birds found at German wind energy plants from Spring 2002 to September 2007. These counts are not the result of regular or rigorous sampling and therefore represent only a very small fraction of the true numbers killed. The author notes that in Brandenburg roughly the same number of dead bats have been found.

Download “Bird losses at wind energy plants in Germany”

]]> http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/bird-losses-at-wind-energy-plants-in-germany/ http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/bird-losses-at-wind-energy-plants-in-germany/ Documents Wind power Wind energy Physical dangers of wind turbines Fri, 24 Aug 2007 20:14:47 +0000 24 Aug 2007 Spiegel (Der) [These photos accompanied an article in the August 24, 2007, Der Spiegel, which is available here at National Wind Watch.]

danger1.jpg

Short circuits, friction or lightening strikes can cause wind turbines to go up in flames — like this one in 2004. Fire fighters can often only stand around and watch, their ladders too short to do anything about it. [DPA]

danger2.jpg

Wind turbines have to withstand massive amounts of strain — especially during storms. This one came crashing down in 2002. Recent storms have sent others to their demise. [DPA]

danger3.jpg

The tips of rotors often have to withstand wind speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour. Recent inspections have revealed cracks on a number of wind generators. [DDP]

danger4.jpg

Workers put the finishing touches on a wind turbine in March — 100 meters off the ground. The tremendous height of the wind turbines make them difficult — and expensive — to maintain. [Getty Images]

danger5.jpg
With wind turbines growing ever taller and rotors ever longer, regular maintenence is more important than ever. Insurance statistics reveal that wind turbines run into problems frequently, despite manufacturer claims that they should function problem-free for 20 years. [DPA]

danger6.jpg

The machinery inside a wind turbine is not complex, but it does have to withstand a lot of day-to-day strain. Gearboxes tend to wear out especially often. [DPA]

danger7.jpg

The demand for wind turbines in Germany and the world continues to grow. Indeed, the country’s capacity for wind power — if only the wind would blow all the time — is almost that of nuclear power in Germany. [AP]

danger8.jpg

Many, though, worry that collapsing wind turbines could be dangerous. This one, which came down in January, landed dangerously near an Autobahn. [AP]

danger9.jpg

Because of worldwide demand, wind farmers sometimes have to wait weeks or months for replacement parts. [DDP]

]]> http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/physical-dangers-of-wind-turbines/ http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/physical-dangers-of-wind-turbines/ Documents Wind power Wind energy KLADEA documents on wind turbine impacts Tue, 15 May 2007 13:34:01 +0000 15 May 2007 Schorn, Brigitte Wind Energy is not free, clean and green energy, as we have been led to believe.
The minimal electricity contribution from wind turbines comes at a huge cost not just in financial terms, but also in terms of the immeasurable irreversible damage this industry does to:

  • People’s Health and Quality of Life (see all reports)
  • Wildlife (see Ireland and UK report)
  • Our environment (see all reports)
  • Property prices (see all reports)
  • Tourism (see Germany report)

From our extensive research conducted over the past 14 months, we have selected the attached reports describing the devastating effects of turbines in 4 different countries. The stories make for alarming reading.

[Brigitte Schorn represents KLADEA, Knockraha Leamlara and District Environmental Association, in County Cork, Ireland.

Download “KLADEA documents on wind turbine impacts”

]]> http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/kladea-documents-on-wind-turbine-impacts/ http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/kladea-documents-on-wind-turbine-impacts/ Documents Wind power Wind energy Downside of wind energy Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:19:43 +0000 15 Mar 2007 Eon Kraftwerke Wind power necessitates new high-voltage lines

An increasingly common sight in the North of Germany: wind turbines wherever you look. And the turbines themselves are not the only things that detract from the landscape; the associated transmission infrastructure can be unsightly too.

Wind turbines detract from the visual quality of the landscapes

Whether or not a particular location is a pleasant place to live depends on air quality, the level of noise pollution, and, to a very large extent, the visual quality of the landscape. Wind turbines and the high-voltage lines that go with them detract considerably from the appearance of landscapes. And unlike large-scale power stations, wind turbines are typically located right in the middle of areas with a high recreational value. They are commonly the only obvious human intrusions on otherwise pristine-looking landscapes. Not surprisingly, opposition to the continued development of wind power is steadily mounting among local communities.

Creators of unwelcome noise and shadows

Wind turbines emit noise: the whistling of the wind through the rotor blades and the mechanical hum of the gearbox and generator. Also, depending on the position of the sun, they throw shadows and create flickering effects, further impairing the visual quality of landscapes, particularly when the sun is low in the sky and the moving shadows are cast through the windows of nearby houses. As a result of these unwanted side-effects, German law now stipulates minimum clearances between new turbine developments and residential areas.

Go to: “The downside of wind energy”

]]> http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/the-downside-of-wind-energy/ http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/the-downside-of-wind-energy/ Documents Wind power Wind energy Fluctuating wind output and subsidies Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:10:52 +0000 15 Mar 2007 Eon Kraftwerke Since wind energy on its own is not capable of delivering a reliable supply of electricity it can never be a substitute for large, centralized power stations.

The force of the wind generally fluctuates considerably within the space of a few days and even a few hours. Sometimes the wind can drop just when the demand for electricity is at its peak. The following graph, which documents the amount of electricity generated during the month of November in 2001, illustrates this point well.


The graph clearly shows that wind energy on its own is not capable of providing a reliable supply of electricity. Coal-and gas-fired power stations are required to smooth out the fluctuations in wind power output and need to be ramped up and down constantly as wind power output fluctuates. This shortens their service life and causes them to consume more fuel-in much the same way as a car in city traffic. The higher specific fuel consumption produces higher emission levels, thereby negating some of the environmental benefit of wind power.

(((())))

The wind does not blow constantly, with the result that wind turbines have a very low capacity factor.

By contrast, coal-fired power stations can generate at 100 percent of their rated capacity at all times apart from when they are shut down for routine maintenance. That’s anything up to 8000 full-load hours a year, depending on the load band they are operated in. By contrast, wind turbines achieve only around 1,800 full-load hours a year. They are therefore economically unviable without subsidies.

In Germany, the Renewable Energy Law (EEG) provides that operators of wind turbines can charge feed-in tariffs of about 9 eurocents per kilowatt-hour-about three times the amount charged for power generated by coal-fired or nuclear power stations. As a result of these high subsidies, wind turbines are now appearing in unviable, low-wind regions, as high-wind sites have been fully developed. Wind-turbine subsidies should be limited to those geographic areas that are high in wind potential.

Go to “Wind power versus centralized power stations.”

]]> http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/fluctuating-wind-output-and-subsidies/ http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/fluctuating-wind-output-and-subsidies/ Documents Wind power Wind energy Wind Turbine Accidents 1997-2006 Wed, 10 Jan 2007 23:23:52 +0000 10 Jan 2007 Eisenkopf, Werner “BUNDESWEITE DATENBANK DER WINDRAD-UNFÃLLE”
fär den Bundesverband Landschaftsschutz [Federal Association for Landscape Protection]

These pages are in German. They include some photos.

Download: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

For rough translations to English, via Google: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

]]> http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/wind-turbine-accidents-1997-2006/ http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/wind-turbine-accidents-1997-2006/