New Study: Roof Top Wind Power Doesn't Pay Off,

Peter D. 64°

Perhaps wind isn't such a great idea for urban generation, in the UK, at least:

"A new study put out by the UK’s Carbon Trust reports that domestic windmills in urban locations are actually net carbon emitters, as more energy goes into their production, shipping, and maintenance than is saved by their use."

http://cleantechnica.com/2008/08/07/new-study-s...

1 reply

Charles M. 110°

Hardly suprising.

The power in the wind is proportional to the cube of the wind speed. ie. Double the speed and the power goes up 8 times.

Urban environments cause a lot of turbulence and slow down the wind, particularly in the zone that applies to rooftop wind generators. If that turbulence slows down the wind by 50% then you're only going to get one eighth of the power output. Pathetic!

It is far better to put those resurces into proper wind generators that are placed in better locations that provide better generation outcomes.

Written in December 2008

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