3 ms·
Well, the wind energy captured depends on the surface area covered by the blades, not the diameter. So let's first check for that: 1.19 * 1.19 = 1.4161 That's
by vanderZwan 5y ago
Well, the wind energy captured depends on the surface area covered by the blades, not the diameter. So let's first check for that:
1.19 * 1.19 = 1.4161
That's still 4% unaccounted for, so there are some efficiency gains there.
The question then becomes how building materials and energy required to build one of these scales with size. If that is linearly with blade diameter/turbine height, then yes, the efficiency increases quickly the larger you build them.
- MagnumOpus 5y agoThe remaining 4% are likely due to the higher and steadier winds at the higher altitude. And the cost savings are likely less about building materials which likely scale at more than quadratic pace with height, but about labour and maintenance. Each trip out to an offshore base is costly, fewer trips made both for building and for maintenance saves a lot of money.