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[[File:Wind Turbines to the south of Stowford Cross - geograph.org.uk - 410831.jpg|thumb| | [[File:Wind Turbines to the south of Stowford Cross - geograph.org.uk - 410831.jpg|thumb|Onshore wind (wind turbines on land)]] | ||
[[File:Offshore wind farms photographed at the Port of Noshiro, at sunset 20220728.jpg|thumb|Offshore wind (stronger and somewhat less intermittent, on average)]] | |||
[[Category:Energy sources]] | [[Category:Energy sources]] | ||
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===Intermittency=== | ===Intermittency=== | ||
Wind power is even more intermittent than [[solar]]. There can be | Wind power is even more intermittent than [[solar]]. There can be months where the wind blows strongly, and months where it barely blows at all. Also, wind turbines can't function when the wind blows ''too'' hard. | ||
{{p2| | {{p2|[suitable wind speeds]| | ||
Most wind turbines can only generate power when wind speeds are between '''3.5 m/s''' and '''25 m/s'''. | Most wind turbines can only generate power when wind speeds are between '''3.5 m/s''' and '''25 m/s'''. | ||
<ref>DASH, Meteorologically Defined Limits to Reduction in the Variability of Outputs from a Coupled Wind Farm System in the Central US [Online], Available: http://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/10981611/Meteorologically%20defined%20limits%20to%20reduction%20in%20the%20variability%20of%20outputs%20from%20a%20coupled%20wind%20farm%20system%20in%20the%20Central%20US_1.pdf?sequence=6</ref> | <ref>DASH, Meteorologically Defined Limits to Reduction in the Variability of Outputs from a Coupled Wind Farm System in the Central US [Online], Available: http://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/10981611/Meteorologically%20defined%20limits%20to%20reduction%20in%20the%20variability%20of%20outputs%20from%20a%20coupled%20wind%20farm%20system%20in%20the%20Central%20US_1.pdf?sequence=6</ref> | ||
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When the wind speed is ''too high'', the wind turbine has to switch itself off completely{{x|maybe with the right innovations, it could just dissipate ''excess'' power instead of shutting off completely? {{rn}} }} to prevent damage to the electronics and gearbox. Without this feature, some wind turbines have even been known to catch fire. | When the wind speed is ''too high'', the wind turbine has to switch itself off completely{{x|maybe with the right innovations, it could just dissipate ''excess'' power instead of shutting off completely? {{rn}} }} to prevent damage to the electronics and gearbox. Without this feature, some wind turbines have even been known to catch fire. | ||
}} | }} | ||
This intermittency usually gets "filled in" with [[natural gas]] power plants, but that's not good enough if we want to phase out [[fossil fuels]]. | |||
{{minor|Having multiple wind farms might ''somewhat'' reduce the intermittency. But in practice, this doesn't seem to help much.<ref>David JC McKay, Sustainable energy - without the hot air [Online], Available: http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/withouthotair/c26/page_187.shtml</ref>}} | {{minor|Having multiple wind farms might ''somewhat'' reduce the intermittency. But in practice, this doesn't seem to help much.<ref>David JC McKay, Sustainable energy - without the hot air [Online], Available: http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/withouthotair/c26/page_187.shtml</ref>}} | ||
Scaling up [[energy storage]] is already a challenge, even for solar which only needs about a day's worth of energy storage in general. Wind might need several weeks worth. | Scaling up [[energy storage]] is already a challenge, even for solar which only needs about a day's worth of energy storage in general. Wind might need several weeks worth{{x|i.e. could easily need 40 times more battery capacity for the same ''average'' energy consumption rate}}. | ||
Maybe wind energy could be stored via [[hydrogen]], which doesn't have a ''fixed capacity'' the way batteries do. {{x|A battery can only store a fixed amount of energy at any given time. But hydrogen could be produced and stockpiled if necessary (as long as [[hydrogen gas/safety|safety]] concerns are addressed). Hydrogen production units (electrolyzers) still have a fixed ''power'' rating: There's a limit to how much hydrogen can be produced ''per unit of time''.}} [[wind/hydrogen|This has its own challenges.]] | Maybe wind energy could be stored via [[hydrogen]], which doesn't have a ''fixed capacity'' the way batteries do. {{x|A battery can only store a fixed amount of energy at any given time. But hydrogen could be produced and stockpiled if necessary (as long as [[hydrogen gas/safety|safety]] concerns are addressed). Hydrogen production units (electrolyzers) still have a fixed ''power'' rating: There's a limit to how much hydrogen can be produced ''per unit of time''.}} [[wind/hydrogen|This has its own challenges.]] | ||
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The best places for wind turbines [[wind/geography|aren't usually near where people live]]. In most cases, the distance is far enough that power lines wouldn't even be viable. {{qn}} | The best places for wind turbines [[wind/geography|aren't usually near where people live]]. In most cases, the distance is far enough that power lines wouldn't even be viable. {{qn}} | ||
This might not be an issue if [[wind/hydrogen]] (as described above) is the main solution. Instead of power lines, the wind turbines would generate [[hydrogen gas]] which would be [[hydrogen | This might not be an issue if [[wind/hydrogen]] (as described above) is the main solution. Instead of power lines, the wind turbines would generate [[hydrogen gas]] which would be [[hydrogen transport|transported]] and used for [[energy]] elsewhere. | ||
We'd need to estimate the full [[EROI]] of such a system, to make sure it's [[Term:viable|viable]].{{rn}} | We'd need to estimate the full [[EROI]] of such a system, to make sure it's [[Term:viable|viable]].{{rn}} | ||
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{{pn|This section needs more research to determine which rare metals are needed, in what quantities, and whether there would be enough global [[mineral reserves]] to scale up wind power enough to replace fossil fuels or not.}} | {{pn|This section needs more research to determine which rare metals are needed, in what quantities, and whether there would be enough global [[mineral reserves]] to scale up wind power enough to replace fossil fuels or not.}} | ||
<!-- TALK: | |||
Consider citing the following study: | |||
Increase in demand for critical materials under IEA Net-Zero Emission by 2050 scenario - Yanan Liang †* , René Kleijn † , Ester van der Voet † - † Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands - Corresponding author: y.liang@cml.leidenuniv.nl | |||
and cross-reference it with USGS data on rare-earth mineral reserves. Seems that even a "net zero by 2050" scenario would use only a very small fraction of mineral reserves - and that most of that is actually for electric car motors, not wind turbines. | |||
--> | |||
===Cement=== | ===Cement=== | ||
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|<nowiki>https://ourworldindata.org/land-use</nowiki> | |<nowiki>https://ourworldindata.org/land-use</nowiki> | ||
}} | }} | ||
<tab name="(see maths)"> | |||
{{calc | {{calc | ||
|energy.tfc / wind.capacity_factor * wind.rq_land | |energy.tfc / wind.capacity_factor * wind.rq_land | ||
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|{{p2|[discussion needed]|~ <code>wind.rq_land</code> is based in the status quo of wind projects, which are probably on land that's more windy than average. If wind turbines were to be on ''average'' crop land, the energy productivity may be less. Then again, there's also pasture and barren land where wind turbines could be placed too, and there's also offshore wind.{{pbr}}~ If all countries were developed, we'd need more than just <code>energy.tfc</code> - but then again, we don't need to get all our energy from wind; [[rooftop solar]] also has a lot of productive potential.}} | |{{p2|[discussion needed]|~ <code>wind.rq_land</code> is based in the status quo of wind projects, which are probably on land that's more windy than average. If wind turbines were to be on ''average'' crop land, the energy productivity may be less. Then again, there's also pasture and barren land where wind turbines could be placed too, and there's also offshore wind.{{pbr}}~ If all countries were developed, we'd need more than just <code>energy.tfc</code> - but then again, we don't need to get all our energy from wind; [[rooftop solar]] also has a lot of productive potential.}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
</tab> | |||
There should be '''no need''' to destroy natural habitats to build wind farms. | There should be '''no need''' to destroy natural habitats to build wind farms. | ||