cleantechnica.com — Walking the floor of WINDPOWER 2008, the annual conference and trade show for the wind energy industry, one couldn’t help but be transfixed by all of the different types of turbines - at least I couldn’t. The wind turbine has become the iconic symbol of clean, renewable energy. But the classic three-bladed turbine horizontal axis wind turbine, with
Jun 21, 2008 View in Crawl 4
Closed AccountJun 22, 2008
flywheelsgenerator/motor rotor on magnetic bearings in a vacuum spinning at 20000 rpm or something. Very efficient. Not good for vehicles I understand, but superawesome otherwise.edit: oops, neverrrmind
differentangleJun 22, 2008
WAWT???
carlososJun 22, 2008
Awesome, I always thought that there should be more than 24 hours in a day. We just have to watch out that we don't install too many or otherwise the days might get shorter again...
jettamanJun 22, 2008
Because hydro dams and nuclear power produce energy FAR cheaper than those turbines. They are way too costly for the amount of energy they produce. Have you ever even walked up to one before? It's like a battle ship tipped on its side. Not efficient, not economical - in fact downright wasteful to produce. In a true free market setting they can not compete with other forms of energy. They rely on heavy subsidies from taxpayers extracted by lobbying, which is completely screwed up.
pentaliveJun 23, 2008
Yes, but the best you can do is break even. If your home uses 200kw/h and you generate 400kw/h you get free electricity but you give the other 200 kw/h to the utility free.Most people shoot for replacing 80% of their normal usage.
jettamanJun 24, 2008
Ah yes, the government subsidy - you'll noticed I pointed that out two posts ago. And not enough expertise for nuclear power plants?! You know not what you say.
icatchthewindJan 4, 2009
You've got to be kidding me! Thanks, I needed a good laugh today.
323onlineMay 19, 2011
Looks like a kinder, gentler wind turbine.