No, what I mean is why can't the generators alternate between say wind and NG. When the wind is blowing, it motivates the generators that produce electricity. When the wind is down, NG takes over and powers the generators. Again, much like a hybrid car.
The generator is build right into the wind tower. Rotating blades spin the electrical generator (and there may be a gearbox to optimize the speed to what the generator needs).
Yes, but how does the electricity get into the grid? When wind can't contribute to the grid, why can't another fuel take over?
Natural gas and other fossil fuel plants work by burning these fuels, boiling the water in process, and resulting high pressure steam drives a turbine. To achieve the desired efficiency, this is done on large scale, and the turbine is huge. The turbine drives the electrical generator, but the size of this generator is 10x or even 100x the size of the generator in the wind tower.
So there are basically no common parts between NG power plant and a single wind tower.
But, actually, I think now I am getting what you mean. I guess your question is: If natural gas can be used in an internal combustion engine, why not attach one of those to the generator in the wind tower?
No. What I asking is why can't wind supply the grid when wind is available but when its not, then NG or oil or coal will take over. In hybrid cars the battery may run the motor but when it runs down, gas takes over. Why can't we have that flexibility in the overall grid? |
