Abstract
Britain needs a national program for research and development of wind power to see if the North Sea's wind can compete with its oil and gas as an energy source. Environmental and land-use pressures will require that large windmills be built in shallow offshore waters where the high wind speeds can compensate for the extra cost. As the southern North Sea gas fields are depleted they will provide natural energy storage reservoirs for compressed air, which can then be used for power on windless days. Wind-generated energy can also be used to electrolyze water and the reservoirs used to store hydrogen. Costs for wind power are primarily interest and repayment for the capital investment since the energy source is free. Current estimates are 150 to 250 pounds per installed kilowatt, with a breakeven point higher than the 130 pounds needed to be economically feasible. When these figures are adjusted for inflation, however, the breakeven point is 200 pounds, the estimated cost for large-windmill systems. As conventional fuels are depleted and become more costly, wind power will be more attractive to future generations. Improvements in windmill design, particularly the high-speed vertical-axis windmill, will reduce capital costs. This design does not need
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Citation Formats
Musgrove, P.
Windmills change direction.
United Kingdom: N. p.,
1976.
Web.
Musgrove, P.
Windmills change direction.
United Kingdom.
Musgrove, P.
1976.
"Windmills change direction."
United Kingdom.
@misc{etde_7231080,
title = {Windmills change direction}
author = {Musgrove, P}
abstractNote = {Britain needs a national program for research and development of wind power to see if the North Sea's wind can compete with its oil and gas as an energy source. Environmental and land-use pressures will require that large windmills be built in shallow offshore waters where the high wind speeds can compensate for the extra cost. As the southern North Sea gas fields are depleted they will provide natural energy storage reservoirs for compressed air, which can then be used for power on windless days. Wind-generated energy can also be used to electrolyze water and the reservoirs used to store hydrogen. Costs for wind power are primarily interest and repayment for the capital investment since the energy source is free. Current estimates are 150 to 250 pounds per installed kilowatt, with a breakeven point higher than the 130 pounds needed to be economically feasible. When these figures are adjusted for inflation, however, the breakeven point is 200 pounds, the estimated cost for large-windmill systems. As conventional fuels are depleted and become more costly, wind power will be more attractive to future generations. Improvements in windmill design, particularly the high-speed vertical-axis windmill, will reduce capital costs. This design does not need to be oriented into the wind, and the electrical generator can be placed on ground level. The use of straight blades allows inexpensive construction materials. Small-scale windmills will be useful for farms, remote areas, and in developing countries. (DCK)}
journal = []
volume = {72:1030}
journal type = {AC}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {1976}
month = {Dec}
}
title = {Windmills change direction}
author = {Musgrove, P}
abstractNote = {Britain needs a national program for research and development of wind power to see if the North Sea's wind can compete with its oil and gas as an energy source. Environmental and land-use pressures will require that large windmills be built in shallow offshore waters where the high wind speeds can compensate for the extra cost. As the southern North Sea gas fields are depleted they will provide natural energy storage reservoirs for compressed air, which can then be used for power on windless days. Wind-generated energy can also be used to electrolyze water and the reservoirs used to store hydrogen. Costs for wind power are primarily interest and repayment for the capital investment since the energy source is free. Current estimates are 150 to 250 pounds per installed kilowatt, with a breakeven point higher than the 130 pounds needed to be economically feasible. When these figures are adjusted for inflation, however, the breakeven point is 200 pounds, the estimated cost for large-windmill systems. As conventional fuels are depleted and become more costly, wind power will be more attractive to future generations. Improvements in windmill design, particularly the high-speed vertical-axis windmill, will reduce capital costs. This design does not need to be oriented into the wind, and the electrical generator can be placed on ground level. The use of straight blades allows inexpensive construction materials. Small-scale windmills will be useful for farms, remote areas, and in developing countries. (DCK)}
journal = []
volume = {72:1030}
journal type = {AC}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {1976}
month = {Dec}
}