Early market potential for utility applications of wind turbines. Final report

Technical Report · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:5512255

Merrill, O; Schweizer, T; Chernoff, H; Knowles, R; Moyle, R; Conopask, H

For wind turbines (WTs) to be economically attractive to utilities, the turbines must be made more reliable and less costly than is currently the case. If installed prices for reliable turbines decline to $1100/kw (1980 dollars), cumulative nationwide market potential exceeds 21,000 MW in the 1990-2000 time period. This figure does not represent a forecast of deployment levels but rather represents the potential market under reasonable expectations of electric demand, coal prices, oil prices, and related factors. Extensive sensitivity analyses were conducted to investigate effects of uncertainties in these factors on wind turbine market potential. Legal and institutional issues are not directly considered in the analysis. Factors that could significantly reduce market potential are: (1) increased coal use, (2) high spinning reserve requirements, (3) site and transmission line limitations, (4) high WT operation and maintenance costs, and (5) relatively stable energy prices. For non-utility owners of utility-scale wind power generation stations, tax incentives determine market potential.

• Research Organization: Science Applications International Corp., McLean, VA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5512255
• Report Number(s): EPRI-AP-4077; ON: TI85920803
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
170100 -- Wind Energy-- Resources & Availability (Climatology)
170400* -- Wind Energy-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
ELECTRIC POWER
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
MACHINERY
MARKETING RESEARCH
POWER
POWER SYSTEMS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
WIND POWER
WIND TURBINES