Efficiency: Difference between revisions

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Thermal plants (e.g., nuclear and coal) are rather inefficient, with around two-thirds of the energy released from their fuel being lost to heat. But they can have a very high capacity factor, particularly if the are used to provide [[Electrical grid|base load]].
Thermal plants (e.g., nuclear and coal) are rather inefficient, with around two-thirds of the energy released from their fuel being lost to heat. But they can have a very high capacity factor, particularly if the are used to provide [[Electrical grid|base load]].


Wind turbines, on the other hand can be quite efficient, capturing and converting most energy from the wind that is physically possible (the Betz limit<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betz%27s_law</ref>), although at a rather narrow range of wind speed.
Wind turbines, on the other hand can be quite efficient, capturing and converting most of the energy from the wind that is physically possible (the Betz limit<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betz%27s_law</ref>), although at a rather narrow range of wind speed.


At wind speeds slower than ideal, there is not enough wind energy to generate power at the full rate of the wind turbine’s design.
At wind speeds slower than ideal, there is not enough wind energy to generate power at the full rate of the wind turbine’s design.

Revision as of 18:36, 10 August 2017

Power curve (power generated versus wind speed) for two Vestas V90 models. They are most efficient at a wind speed of ~11–12 m/s (25–27 mph). At wind speeds of 25 m/s and above (≥56 mph), the wind turbines shut down.

Efficiency is often (incorrectly) confused with capacity factor.

Thermal plants (e.g., nuclear and coal) are rather inefficient, with around two-thirds of the energy released from their fuel being lost to heat. But they can have a very high capacity factor, particularly if the are used to provide base load.

Wind turbines, on the other hand can be quite efficient, capturing and converting most of the energy from the wind that is physically possible (the Betz limit[1]), although at a rather narrow range of wind speed.

At wind speeds slower than ideal, there is not enough wind energy to generate power at the full rate of the wind turbine’s design.

At faster wind speeds, the blades must be pitched to be less efficient, so that their rotation rate remains constant.

The result is that wind turbines have a rather low capacity factor of 25%–35%, and due to the intermittent and variable wind instead of the demands of the grid.