Page 26 - Fluid Power Engineering

4 Chapter One

needs is already being met by wind.” The LBL report used forecast
data from Energy Information Administration of the US Department
of Energy (DOE).

Cost of Wind Energy
The cost of wind energy is comparable to fossil-fuel–based energy,
when cost of greenhouse gas emissions is taken into account. Average
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cost of energy from coal is about €80 per MWh, while wind energy
at a site with average annual wind speed of 7 m/s is slightly less than
€80 per MWh. Figure 1-5 is a plot of levelized cost of energy from
coal, natural gas, nuclear, and onshore and off-shore wind for average
wind speed in the range of 6 to 10 m/s.
Table 1-1 compares the components of cost of wind energy projects
to other source of electricity generation. Capital cost and O&M cost
for onshore wind projects are comparable to coal-fired projects. The
advantage of wind is that it has no fuel cost.
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According to the DOE report, the amount of economically viable
onshore wind power is 8000 GW that can be produced at a cost of
$85 per MWh or less. Figure 1-6 is a plot of potential of wind energy
and the cost of energy in the United States, as a function of class of
wind resource.

Benefits of Wind Energy
The primary benefits of wind energy are environmental and cost.
Wind energy production results in zero emissions. Compared to fossil

Lowest price CO 2 cost Range Onshore installed cost 1300 €/KW
Onshore installed cost 1700 €/KW
120
Generation cost, Euros/MWh 100 Generation cost, Euros/MWh 80
120
100
80
60
60
40
40
20
20
7.00
6.50
8.00
7.50
8.50
9.00
0
Coal Nuclear Gas 0 6.00 Wind Speed, m/s 9.50 10.00
Wind Speed, m/s
FIGURE 1-5 Levelized cost of energy from different sources. Costs are in
euros per MWh. Cost of wind energy is a function of wind speed. 3