The cost/benefit analysis of a windmill:
https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/06/29/the-story-of-a-windmill/Excerpt:
The project began with a focus on the potential benefits of wind energy. The project soon became consumed with “green” is good regardless of the cost or the benefit.
The windmill stands 155-feet tall. The projected lifespan of the windmill is 20-25 years. It was projected to produce between $12,000 to $28,000 of electricity per year at a cost of $510,000 to construct and erect.
..best of scenarios, it would take 18 years to pay back the cost of the generator while at the same time completely disregarding the cost of money. In addition, after the 18-year payback there would be only 2 to 7 years of useful life.
..objections were ignored because of supposedly newer technology.
there was mention of setting aside $3,500 per year for maintenance. However, that has not surfaced in any of the current numbers.
It is not producing anywhere near the quantity of electricity that was promised. In five years, the windmill has produced $40,000 of electricity or $8,000 per year. This is far short of the $12,000 to $28,000 that was anticipated.Additionally, the windmill broke down after warranty expired and to fix it cost another rather large sum of money.
The expectation of a windmill lasting 20-25 years - is just that - reality is not the same plus factor in decommissioning costs:
https://energycentral.com/news/retiring-worn-out-wind-turbines-could-cost-billions-nobody-hasExcerpt:
The life span of a wind turbine, power companies say, is between 20 and 25 years. But in Europe, with a much longer history of wind power generation, the life of a turbine appears to be somewhat less.
In Texas, there are approximately 12,000 turbines operational in the state. Decommissioning these turbines could cost as much as $2.3 billion.Has any environmental cost been factored in:
https://reneweconomy.com.au/explainer-what-happens-to-old-wind-turbines/By 2050, it’s estimated that 43 million tonnes of decommissioned turbine blades will reach their end of life and need to be managed through the global waste stream. The blades are made from low weight, high-strength thermoset polymers, capable of withstanding gale force winds and even hurricanes. Early turbines were made of fibreglass and in the last ten years they’ve been made with carbon fibre. Unfortunately, the strong bond between the epoxy and the fibre that gives them their strength is also what makes them very hard to recycle.Bear in mind 2050 is an estimate and judging by predictions of 20-25 year lifespan not being met, the waste will become waste sooner rather then later.
Do the sums and soon learn that the economy of running windmills is a lot more expensive and damaging then many think. Promote that, money will disappear just like a puff of wind. I hope you're good with maths and happy to part with your hard earned tax dollars - much of it disappearing on the green revolution to little benefit.
Coal fired plants:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/coal-fired-power-stationExcerpt:
The successful development of advanced sensors and control systems will lead to increased fuel flexibility and better control of emissions, which will ultimately improve plant economical performance and viability. For instance, better monitoring and control of the combustion process will result in low carbon levels in ash, allowing ash residue to be used in cement manufacture (because of a low and controlled carbon content), thereby giving revenue instead of disposal costs.So, a coal fired power plant has secondary benefit from ash revenue instead of disposal costs. Any secondary revenue benefit (apart from disposal costs) from old windmills??
And how's the unintended consequences of wind turbines:
The overall monetary cost of any system's life cycle is at best an estimate. The actual costs can vary greatly. The environmental damage is something else.
