474
edits
Efficiency: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m
no edit summary
No edit summary |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
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 they 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 they are used to provide [[Electrical grid|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 [[wikipedia:Betz%27s_law|Betz limit]]), although only 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 [[wikipedia:Betz%27s_law|Betz limit]]), although only 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. | ||