Page 311 - Alternative Energy Systems in Building Design
P. 311

WIND TURBINE ENERGY ECONOMICS   285


                       ■ After initial installation capital, wind turbines require relatively minimal mainte-
                         nance and produce energy without producing any atmospheric pollution.
                       ■ Even though wind turbines are very tall, they occupy a minimal footprint such that
                         the occupied land could be used for agricultural and cattle-rearing purposes.
                       ■ Wind farms offer an economic alternative in rural locations, where grid utility service
                         installations are not readily available.
                       ■ Wind turbines are one of the best means of providing electrical energy in third-
                         world countries.
                       ■ In most installations, electric power produced by wind turbines is more competitive
                         than grid-supplied power.



                       Disadvantages

                       ■ To produce power, wind turbines require minimum wind speeds of 7 mi/h, which
                         means that power produced by windmills must be supplemented with an alternative
                         source of electric power.
                       ■ Owing to the possibility of accidental bird collision with wind turbine blades and
                         the disturbance of marine life in offshore installations, some animal protection
                         groups and environmentalists object to wind energy production.
                       ■ Owing to the imposing structure heights of windmills, most people in urban areas
                         object to landscape disfigurement.
                       ■ During the process of manufacturing, some pollution is produced.
                       ■ To harvest dependable amounts of energy from wind, large numbers of turbines
                         must be installed in sufficient quantities in rural locations. These locations must
                         have appropriate atmospheric wind current conditions to ensure a higher probability
                         of power production. Wind turbine output production often must be supplemented
                         with auxiliary gas turbines or other energy-production means to provide some
                         degree of power-production stability.
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