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do not require long blades to catch the wind

Luckily, RWE scientists have discovered a method of turning the energy in 1 sq meter of wind into the equivalent energy from 100 sq. meters.  We're saved!

You know, i don't even need blades to catch the wind, much less long ones... i just cup my hands together.
</snark>

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Wed Sep 3rd, 2008 at 04:19:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Of course they don't capture nearly as much wind. But the big question is how much energy for how much money, not how much energy for how much blade span.
by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Wed Sep 3rd, 2008 at 05:24:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]
As i've said here often, i've nothing against small urban turbines.  But the long-term cost of energy is very high, partly because urban winds range from mild to non-existent, with much greater turbulence. The message needs to be commercial, utility-scale turbines; that's the immediate solution.

When the populace stops fighting commercial machines, as in the insane opposition in the UK, accepting their presence on the landscape where there are truly harvestable winds, these can be an acceptable toys.  I'd rather see subsidized solar in urban areas.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Wed Sep 3rd, 2008 at 06:01:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]
How about tall turbines in the centre of large roundabouts?

A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 3rd, 2008 at 06:11:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

urban winds range from mild to non-existent, with much greater turbulence.


In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Wed Sep 3rd, 2008 at 08:54:44 AM EST
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