Wind project generates controversy [National Wind Watch]

But is wind really helping when it is operating? We are now back to the consideration of the kilowatt hours being delivered. The problem now becomes wind’s frequent, random and sometimes large fluctuations between zero and full capacity. There are fluctuations in between these two extremes as well. This means that the gas turbine plant is stressed in having to mirror wind’s gyrations. In this mode, the gas turbine plants are still operating 70 to 80 per cent of the time and, in doing so, consume at least 10 to 15 per cent more fossil fuel per kilowatt-hour than when operating in the normal, more continuous mode for the same amount of relatively smooth production time. As well, the CO2 emissions produced by the gas turbine plants are 20 to 45 per cent higher, depending upon gas turbine type and actual efficiency loss, and this can easily offset any gains made by the wind plant, which is producing only 20 to 30 per cent of the time.

So, if the purpose of having wind plants is to save fossil fuel consumption and reduce CO2 emissions, they serve little purpose. The gas turbine plants operating alone would provide the total reliable energy to power the homes, with perhaps some small increase in fossil fuel consumption, but with no greater CO2 emissions. The wind plant capacity is redundant, and we have not even talked about costs.