Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Researchers Claim Wind Turbine Energy Payback In Less Than a Year

Posted by timothy on from the answer-is-blowin'-in dept.

mdsolar (1045926) writes "Researchers have carried out an environmental lifecycle assessment of 2-megawatt wind turbines mooted for a large wind farm in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. They conclude that in terms of cumulative energy payback, or the time to produce the amount of energy required of production and installation, a wind turbine with a working life of 20 years will offer a net benefit within five to eight months of being brought online." Watts Up With That? has a more skeptical take on the calculations.

5 of 441 comments (clear)

  1. Sounds about right... by djupedal · · Score: 5, Funny

    We attended an investors meeting in Portland relating to solar power 2 yrs. ago....the panel of solar experts all kept talking about playing catch up with wind and how solar was getting it's ass kicked. Finally someone in the group asked "Can you tell us what room the wind energy investment group is meeting in...?"

    1. Re:Sounds about right... by Cryacin · · Score: 3, Funny

      Add hot air from politicians to that list. Oh wait, that's wind power. Nevermind!

      --
      Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
  2. Re:WUWT by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · · Score: 3, Funny

    But their argument is irrefutable. "But the wind speed changes!! They didn't mention that!!". I only have three words. Double-U Oh Double-U.

  3. Re:WUWT by pipatron · · Score: 2, Funny

    Next up: Conservapedia for unbiased fact-checking.

    --
    c++; /* this makes c bigger but returns the old value */
  4. Re:WUWT by Rei · · Score: 5, Funny

    Typical Slashdot. "New peer reviewed science study says something. But random guy on the internet says they're wrong!"

    --
    I was watching this thing on TV about some guy named Hitler. Someone should stop him!