Wind turbines are they really good for the planet? How much carbon produced and energy used to make a large 1?

Answer 1

There's a lot of carbon that goes into the production but it's that way with any big machine. We need energy and every type out there will require some form of machine to capture and convert it into a form we can use.

As a whole, wind is reasonably clean. It's just not very cheap. Those turbines take a lot to make. Hydro still is probably the cheapest and most reliable environmental source. Wind and solar get pretty flaky in certain environments. That's not to say that one can't make good use of them in certain places. Hydro and geothermal are excellent alternatives in other spots.

Methane recapture is probably the best option we have at this point. Capturing methane from decaying material has great potential given the number of people on the planet generating waste. Efficient capture and conversion need to be improved, but that's happening now.

Answer 2

Wind turbines generate far more energy over their life time than it takes to make one. Therefore they reduce the amount of CO2 produced by a great deal compared to any fossil electricity production method. The time to pay back the energy it takes to make a wind turbine is about one year.

Wind turbines do not consume electricity to turn. The wind makes them turn and the produce electricity.

Wind is not a consistent source of power in most places, although there are a few places in the country with very constant winds. The Dakotas are a good example. It has been estimated that the Dakotas have enough wind for wind turbines to generate the entire USA need for electricity. The main problem with that would be power lines. Right now there are not enough big power lines to transport the electricity out to the rest of the country. In other parts of the country, wind power can be used with other forms of power to create a consistent source.

Many farmers are starting to put wind turbines on their property and generate electricity and they can still farm the land too. In many cases farmers are making much more money from generating electricity than they make from farming.

Wind power is the most cost competitive form of renewable energy, except for hydro-electric. It cause less environmental problems than hydro-electric which is an advantage. People are concerned about birds being killed by turbines. New turbine designs have much slower turning speeds and so are much safer for birds. Also turbines kill only a few birds every year. Windows in buildings kill millions of birds a year and are a far bigger problem for birds.

Answer 3

Because for the amount of energy we need wind turbines are just not reliable enough, as they are dependant upon the wind actually blowing, and they are a blot on the landscape. On a cold winters day under a static high pressure system with negligible wind I would hate to be relying on wind turbines to provide the power heat my home! More dependable "green" sources of energy that need to be explored are tidal and wave power, which are there 24 hours a day, 365/366 days a year whatever the weather. Also the production of methane gas from waste and humans certainly create a never ending supply of that!!

Answer 4

With the last comment about the energy used to turn a turbine. Then it is possible to make purpetual energy in small excess relative to windspeed. I have wondered if there where billions of micro windmills would the energy requirement for input be smaller and the overall output be a higher percentage. A slight breeze can send a pinwheel spinning, and a gust through Palm Springs makes the windmills blow, could the breath of a child power a ps2?

Answer 5

As I understand it, wind turbines require electricity in order to turn. However, the energy that is produced in order to make them turn is far less than the energy they generate. Don't quote me on this but I believe that is is around a 1:4 ratio.

The biggest concern is that they are often considered unsightly, create noise pollution and may or may not damage wildlife.

Answer 6

WInd turbines are not "Good" for the planet; but given our societies demand for power they are a better alternative than many other energy sources.

There is quite a bit of concrete (which is a major source of CO2) used in making access roads and foundations; but this is far less than nuclear powerstations or large reservoirs for Hydro-electric.
The embodied energy in the tower, blades and generator is less than other comparable powerstations because they are inherently lighter structures.

Answer 7

They are absolutely advantageous for the planet.

According to a report of the Oeko-Institute, Freiburg/Germany, dated summer 2003 the facts are as follows for a typical windmill of type Enercon E-66, with a height of 98 m, which has a performance of 1.8 MegaWatt and produces on an average 4 Million kWh of electricity yearly:

Saving during 20 years life time of carbondioxide CO2 is 49.000 tons, sulphurdioxide SO2 is 52 tons and nitrogenoxides NOX is 45 tons (this referring to the German energy mix of coal, oil, gas and nuclear based powerplants).

The production of this windmill also causes pollutants; these quantities are recovered by the windmill referring to carbondioxide within 4.5 months, sulphurdioxide within 8 months and nitrogenoxides within 9.5 months.

Answer 8

yeah but when they ae made then they don't use anymore. but bing coal burning factories keep using carbon duhh....


it's ok you stay reliant on coal, i'm gonna try and prepare for when it's all gone see ya!