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Environment & Energy

Bob Wallace

(549 posts)

3. Those numbers won't hold...

Reply to jpak (Original post)

Sun Dec 11, 2011, 11:02 PM

Dec 2011

The first generation wind turbines at Altamont Pass are just now being replaced after 30 years of use. Newer technology should last longer. I'd guess we're looking at a 40 year lifespan for onshore. Offshore, having no gear boxes, should last longer.

Then, as time goes on, the amount of coal and oil used to recycle/rebuild/replace turbines will drop. More of our grid feed will be from renewables and less from coal. More of the transportation used to move stuff around with be from electricity and biofuels, less from oil.

Concrete. We need a better solution. Perhaps one of the new processes will work out....

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21 replies

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Highlight:

Wind Power Produces Just 4-14% Emissions of Fossil Fuels, Even With Manufacturing & Decommissioning [View all] jpak Dec 2011 OP

Wind power not only doesn't "replace" fossil fuels - it requires them wtmusic Dec 2011 #1

Umm - unlike nuclear power - yes? jpak Dec 2011 #2

That's pretty ridiculous FBaggins Dec 2011 #5

I posted those studies earlier this year - perhaps you missed them jpak Dec 2011 #19

I retrieved this from the carcass of DU2.... jpak Dec 2011 #20

That explains how I "missed" them... they don't support your prior post. FBaggins Dec 2011 #21

You're partly, temporarily correct... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #4

Since you left out gamma rays from outer space and squirrel cages wtmusic Dec 2011 #10

Well... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #15

Solar ramps up and down slowly and predictably XemaSab Dec 2011 #17

Yes, we will need storage... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #18

Those numbers won't hold... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #3

Higher than I would have thought Dead_Parrot Dec 2011 #6

Cement... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #7

Yeah, approximately double Jacobson's estimates. joshcryer Dec 2011 #8

Weird, it's not like Jacobson got his figures straight from the AWEA- Dead_Parrot Dec 2011 #9

Well, Jacobson lists a few pages... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #11

Just yanking chains to see what happens :) Dead_Parrot Dec 2011 #13

DTM XemaSab Dec 2011 #16

I already closed the PDF to compare, I think they're in the same range. joshcryer Dec 2011 #12

The paper assumes each MW of power capacity will be 300m away wtmusic Dec 2011 #14