It's time we talk about the facts. From the the time of it's conception wind energy has limped along on financial crutches such as grants, donations, fund-raisers, etc. Return on investment has been negligible. It's time we examine within and look at a more realistic picture. With an average price tag around $2MM per wind turbine. On average that turbine would generate 1.5MW. Enough for about Let's say that electricity goes to market in Nevada at around $60 per MW. Without accounting for maintenance or any other residual cost it would take 2.6 years to pay for the investment. Is that enough incentive to attract someone to not only invest in that, but in the research to improve it?
Here's the reality. Money drives progress. Let's quit pretending we don't want money. The "we can do this without them" mentality is not progressing our cause at an acceptable rate. With the inefficiency of the wind turbines previously mentioned, our planet will be cluttered with wind turbines that don't even turn until around 11 mph depending on the design.
I have caught a lot of flack over this. Money is not evil. Private funding is necessary for progression. It improves the world we live in every day in every aspect. In the next 2 years our company needs to supply 1,323.2MW and that's per hour of course. With the wind turbines previously metioned we would need to build 883 units at a cost of $1,766,000,000.00. Does anyone out there want to loan me the money? I didn't think so. We are left with a plan of two generalized options: First, going after private money. Secondly, increase efficiency.
My point here is that it's not about the money. It's what comes as a result of the money... improvement and efficiency! And improvement is what revolutionizes the industry and silences all those that claim "...wind energy is not a viable source of power".
Sam Sadler
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Well Sam, I think you are rehashing an age old problem. Its sort of the “chicken or the egg” concept. Unfortunately in the end it comes down to price point for “x” amount of energy the customer is willing to pay. It may be easy to put blame on the private money or public money for not investing to do all the wonderful things you mention (which is the right path, I agree), however the money responds to those who are paying the price. Until we as consumers change our ways, our best wishes will not come to fruition.
ReplyDeleteWe the people are in charge and take a look at what the people have done: complain about the actions they take to support all the things they are against. Why? Because it benefits their pocket in the moment. Why? Because they would rather blame everything on some one else rather than invest in themselves and take the risks with "their" money to do what they say they believe in. Why? Because of fear and anxiety they create for themselves listening to the television media instead of being out their doing something about it. Why? Because it is easier to sit in their recliner and be a reclined critic. They could at least get on a computer and do their research and understand the "world governments" the larger picture, and how each country is a part of globalized goals. We need more doers and less whiners. More supporters of those willing to take the risk than supporters of those who are not willing to do something themselves to change their lives (which is what they possess power over)
ReplyDeleteThe US is better than this and I find it amazing we are not investing in ourselves. I believe Union mentality has gotten us to this communistic mode of thinking. What do you think?
I don't even understand what you folks are talking about. Of course wind energy has to be profitable or no one would invest in it. There is no difference between wind and any other industry. It is a simple equation of risk vs. reward, and where to invest your dollars. Wind has been profitably developed for over 20 years in select markets. There is no mystery to that. Wind is not for every market - there is a sweet spot of wind speed and power price (combined with REC/green tag and hopefully PTCs), access to transmission, site permitability, and initial capex cost that make a wind project go. It is the same as any other type of development - the factors have to work for a profitable project or the project doesn't go. Putting wind turbines into a site that is not suited for it from an economic perspective would be just plain dumb. No developers do that.
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