3 ms·

Why would a wind turbine emit greenhouse gasses? During manufacturing? During use? Compared to natural gas, coal, or hydro power?

• sandermvanvliet 7y ago
  Don’t have a link handy but I’ve read somewhere that the gearboxes leak oil that then evaporates. Most likely not the cleanest stuff in there. Edit: Link 1: https://www.windpowerengineering.com/two-reasons-why-gearboxes-leak/ https://www.windpowerengineering.com/two-reasons-why-gearbox... Link 2: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/investigation-launched-hydraulic-oil-leaks-ocotillo-wind-facility https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/investigation-launched-hy... Link 3: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-12/wind-power-pollution-turbine-oil-seeps-into-the-land-in-mexico https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-12/wind-powe...
  • creato 7y ago
    Is this really a problem? They probably leak at the same rate as any other machine, which includes almost any other power plant. The total spillage or "evaporation" of all wind turbines is probably not more oil than even a tiny oil spill in an oil field or pipeline. Obviously we should fix a problem here if there is one, but the fact that we're discussing it in the context of larger scale issues is absurd.
    • sandermvanvliet 7y ago
      Most likely not but GP was asking about leakage so hence the links