Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Too much cash for wind farms: study
Credit: Press Association | 4th February 2013 | www.yorkpress.co.uk ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
The Government is over-investing in onshore and offshore wind farms, according to a think tank.
The Adam Smith Institute report The Limits Of Wind Power claims the investment in Britain and America is misguided.
In the report, released on Monday, the authors say wind energy “will never be suited as the lone or primary source of grid electricity due to its variable nature and will not deliver the environmental benefits expected”.
Wind energy needs either expensive energy storage facilities or reserve power generation facilities to provide for users’ needs, the authors say.
And the report, released jointly with the US’s Reason Foundation, claims “wind energy is intermittent and therefore these back-ups are needed to avoid blackouts”.
The paper argues that the practical upper limit for wind power’s contribution to an electricity grid is 10% of the total energy mix – rather than the 2020 aim of between 8% and 15%.
“Very high wind penetrations are not achievable,” said William Korchinski, author of the report.
“As wind’s share increases, system reliability will be adversely affected disproportionately – unless adequate reserve power is available.
“That power reserve is expensive and lowers any possible environmental benefits.”
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
Wind Watch relies entirely on User Contributions |
![]() (via Stripe) |
![]() (via Paypal) |
Share: