Re: Offshore Wind:"It's the right time for South Carolina to start talking about this stuff."..."

On 26 Feb, 09:05, dave.walt...@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
On Feb 26, 12:37 am, Mike Swift <tomsw...@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

In article <1172230170.064450.133...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,

xnich...@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
By Kyle Stock
The (Charleston) Post and Courier
Fri, Feb. 23, 2007 (extract)

"CHARLESTON - Scientists, lawmakers and utility executives from three
states will gather in Charleston next week to debate the merits of
offshore wind turbines, a technology that is revolutionizing the
energy industry in Europe but running into resistance in the United
States.

A lot of breezes could be harnessed and put to use as an alternative
power source if generators between 98 and nearly 500 feet tall were
placed 8 to 10 nautical miles off the coast, said Nicholas Rigas,
director of S.C. Institute for Energy Studies, a state-chartered
research group based in Clemson.

"It is very encouraging and the political winds are right," Rigas
said. "It's the right time for South Carolina to start talking about
this stuff."..."

"....As talk of global warming and volatile oil prices heats up, a
rash of offshore turbines is spreading off the coasts of European
nations. Most notably, Ireland plans to get 80 percent of its power
from water-sweeping winds by 2020.

The turbines have not turned so smoothly, however, in the United
States. A number of projects have been stalled by opposition from
coastal landowners and tourism promoters. Opponents have argued that
turbines are unsightly, kill birds and interfere with aviation radar,
though all of those assertions have been contested."

Full article:-
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/business/16764...

You must remember that the main function of wind machines is to reduce
the fuel costs of base load power plants. each kW of wind machine
requires between .8 to .9 kW of coal, nuclear, gas, or hydro to back it
up.

--
Mike

Some say we must tax corporations more. What they do not understand is that
corporations do not pay taxes. One of our governments conditions for their
existence is they collect the taxes from their customers and pass them to
the government.
Mike Swift- Hide quoted text -

Actually it requires a 1 to 1 ration since every MW of wind has to
have a MW of fossil/nuclear when that wind doesn't blow. Also, one
shouldn't be mislead by the MW out put. If a 1,000 MW wind plant is
build, it's average output is only 250 MWs based on the 25% capacity
factor. So...perhaps on can say that only 250 MWs of on damand power
is need(!)...since it can only replace 250, not 1000 MWs of that on
demand.

Most grids are sufficiently flexible that you can get about 20% of
your energy from wind farms before needing extra non wind capacity,
assuming a reasonable distribution of wind sources.

Probably in the US the figure may be less since there appears to be
less reserve capacity.

This figure can be increased with some changes in network usage and
generation. The most promising technology here is domestic electricity
production using natural gas powered turbines (or perhaps one day fuel
cells), which would provide a significant reserve capacity.

The USA doesn't have such a favorable geography as Europe for offshore
wind - it fronts on two sides into Oceans with relatively steep costs.
The Gulf of Mexico would be ideal except for a propensity to
hurricanes. On the other had, the Great Planes (Montana and the
Dakotas?) have superb resources, but no grid connections.


.

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