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There's a bureaucratic barrier in American turbines at 499 feet (152 meters) tall which requires FAA approval and a bunch of related paperwork. So that means tu
by gok 7y ago
There's a bureaucratic barrier in American turbines at 499 feet (152 meters) tall which requires FAA approval and a bunch of related paperwork. So that means turbines larger than 3MW are rare. The calculus may change when >10MW turbines become more widespread. GE is shopping around a 12-14MW design.
- scblock 7y agoYes and no. Anything over 200 feet requires FAA review and approval, including of lighting. Up to 499 feet the rules are simple and well understood. Between 500 and 699 feet the rules and review are more difficult, and there are a number of sites that are unable to go to those heights because of airport and other constraints, but there are a number of projects in active development targeting 600 to 650 feet right now, and I expect more in the future. 700 feet and above is still a relative unknown, but possible. The effect is that for now most people have been targeting 500 feet, but a greater percentage of future development is likely to exceed 500 feet. Realistically this won't wait for 10 MW units, but will yield significant benefits (overall) at 4 to 5 MW.