I had wondered about the durability of wind turbines. This study shows that there will be large reductions in capacity factor in only 10 years if you don't take the maximum effort to repair them. Which the UK is not doing very well compared to Denmark for example.
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https://stopthesethings.files.wordpr...s-19-12-12.pdf
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And offshore windfarms start with a much higher capacity factor but fall to below onshore values in just 8 years losing half of their capacity in that time. Due to a much harsher operating environment and greater difficulty of maintenance?
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It would be interesting to see how much ongoing expense Denmark wind farm operators are spending on upkeep as a percentage of the original capital cost.
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I wonder what declining output with age for the turbines in a brutally snowy climate like mine would look like where the best wind is also in areas like the Tug Hill Plateu at the end of Lake Ontario which is pummeled by 150-200 inches of wet lake effect snow every winter. Probably close to the degradation rates of off shore wind.
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Wind energy is not renewable. It is rebuildable. As long as we have the affordable liquid fossil fuel for the gigantic machines that are required to install and repair these towering mega-turbines.
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