SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Pastimes : The Case for Nuclear Energy
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Snowshoe who wrote (14)1/15/2001 8:20:26 PM
From: Hawkmoon  Read Replies (2) of 312
 
Don't get me wrong... I'm certainly not as against wind power as I am with wasting resources, and building shiny collectors on thousands of square miles required to produce solar power at current conversion ratios.

But even with a 1 megawatt-hour wind turbine, you'd need 2,500 of the buggers in order to produce the same amount of power as a medium size nuclear plant. (One of those links provided that little trivial tidbit .. :0)

Furthermore, apparently the operating life of these turbines is only 13 years as compared to the 40-60 years for a nuclear facility(with recertification). I can only imagine that salt exposure on those Danish windmills will diminish their operating life as well.

I think wind power is great for certain applications such as providing power to remote or undeveloped regions. It would also be useful for areas where significant winds exist around the clock such as they are seeing in parts of California.

And btw, here's an excellent resource of wind power in that state:

energy.ca.gov

It seems that even with 13,000 wind turbines operational in California, it only accounts for 1.5% of their energy requirements.

In contrast to this, only a couple of nuclear plants account for 16% of California's power needs. That's TWO plants accounting for nearly 1/5 of the state's entire power needs.

energy.ca.gov
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News