|
An application has been made for fifteen 1.3 megawatt turbines, typical in size of modern turbines.
| Number of turbines |
15 |
|
| Rating of turbines |
1.30 |
MW |
| Wind farm size |
19.50 |
MW |
| Predicted output |
51,246 |
MWhr p.a. |
| Average Households supplied |
10,903 |
|
| Carbon dioxide saved |
22,036 |
tonnes p.a. |
| |
|
The capacity factor used in these calculations is 30.00%.
|
Once a turbine is in operation it will be monitored remotely with maintenance personnel making periodic visits. A turbine is expected to have an operational life of approximately 25 years. After this time it will be decommissioned in order to return the site to its previous state.
How the figures are calculated
1) Predicted Output
capacity of wind farm (MW) x capacity factor
x
hours per annum (8,760 hours)
=
predicted output (MW hours per annum)
‘Capacity factor’ is the % of the wind farm’s maximum output expected over a year. 100% would mean that the wind turbines were generating their maximum output all the time, a little like driving a car at maximum speed all the time. In reality, the wind is usually blowing and the wind turbines generate electricity most of the time, at a greater or lesser proportion of their maximum possible output.
2) Households Supplied
predicted output
÷
average UK electricity consumption per household per annum
=
number of households electricity needs supplied
3) Carbon dioxide emissions avoided
wind farm output
x
carbon dioxide savings per kWH *
=
carbon dioxide emissions avoided
*Our emissions calculations assume between 0.37 tonnes per MWhr and 0.89 tonnes per MWhr, which is the approach recommended by the Committee of Advertising Practice 31st October 2007.
It is difficult to predict exactly what volume of carbon dioxide emissions the wind farm will prevent as the amount of carbon dioxide produced by conventional electricity generation varies from year to year.
The lower value is based upon displacing the emissions produced by gas-powered generation, the higher based on displacing coal powered generation. In practice the figures will probably be somewhere between the two.
Future changes in the power generating mix and fuel costs in the UK mean this figure will change over time.
|
Wind turbines displace CO2 emissions helping to reduce global warming 
Animals and wind energy schemes co-exist amicably
|
