A controversial study regarding wind energy efficiency was recently released. The study was conducted in the United Kingdom and does not put wind energy in a favorable light. Since wind energy is arguably the most popular form of renewable energy at the time being, the study is causing serious concern in the wind sector.
The study was conducted by Stuart Young Consulting and funded by the John Muir Trust, which is a conservation charity. Data for the study was accumulated in the UK and spanned between November 2008 and December 2010.
According to wind sector representatives, wind turbines generate approximately 30 percent of their stated capacity over a year’s time. However, according to the recently released study, wind turbines only generate 20 percent of their capacity for more than fifty percent of the time. For more than a third of the time, wind turbines do not even generate 10 percent of their overall capacity.
The authors of the study stated: “It is clear from this analysis that wind cannot be relied upon to provide any significant level of generation at any defined time in the future. There is an urgent need to reevaluate the implications of reliance on wind for any significant proportion of our energy required.”
The study puts further pressure on the wind energy industry when it studied low wind event occurrences. According to wind sector representatives, such events do not occur with any regularity or frequency. The study found that such low wind events were occurring about every 6 days and lasted nearly 5 hours. Low wind events obviously cause greater decreases in efficiency, a contributing factor to the efficiency levels the study found.
Further data according to the study found that at the times where there was the greatest demand on the wind turbines, they only managed between 2.5 and 5.5 percent of their capacity.
The wind sector has obviously found fault with the study, citing that there may be ulterior motives behind the study. The funding party, the John Muir Trust, according to wind advocates often is behind anti-wind campaigns, especially in areas they wish to protect.
Director of policy for Scottish Renewables, Jenny Hogan, stated: “It could be argued the trust is acting irresponsibly given their expertise lies in protecting our wild lands and yet they seem to be going to great lengths to undermine renewable energy which is widely recognized as one of the biggest solutions to tackling climate change- the single biggest threat to our natural heritage.”
