Wind Power Cost Closer to Coal-Fired Plants

[Nathanael]

Wind turbine prices last year fell below 1 million euros ($1.4 million) a megawatt for the first time since 2005, London-based analyst Bloomberg New Energy Finance reported today.

These turbine prices also helped push the cost of generating wind power in the best wind regions to $69 a megawatt-hour, which compares with $67 for coal-fired power plants and $56 for combined cycle plants using gas.

Link: http://www.energyboom.com/wind/wind-power-cost-closer-coal-fired-plants

[liberal N proud]

1. Bonus - You don't have to destroy the environment to run wind turbines

[toddwv]

2. That just means that the anti-progress right will hate wind power even more.

Which is kind of funny because mankind has been using wind power for a thousand years or so.

Apparently the only power that the right wants generated from the wind is the near daily rantings of their favorite right-wing radio/tv host.

[TheWraith]

3. Amortized costs don't really tell the tale.

What this doesn't mention is that the cost is primarily front-loaded, meaning that you drop that $1.4 million on a turbine before it ever starts to generate power. After that, costs are mostly limited to routine maintenance.

[DCKit]

6. Same with solar. With CA incentives, ROI can be 3-5 years. After that, it's FREE. nt

[GliderGuider]

4. "in the best wind regions"...

Mmhmm. And in the average ones?

[jtrockville]

5. All coal isn't equal either.

The comparison is to "coal". No breakdown of high sulphur coal vs low sulphur coal (and associated emission costs).

Not really a good comparison from any perspective. Still, it's good to see wind power becoming competitive.

[JohnWxy]

7. recommended.

[JohnWxy]

8. on-shore wind power potential - 10x current U.S. total electricity consumption

WOW!

http://www.ecoseed.org/en/wind-energy/onshore-wind/article/56-onshore-wind/6453-u-s-wind-energy-potential-greater-than-previously-thought-%E2%80%93-nrel


"According to the latest analysis from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, onshore wind energy in the United States has the capacity for almost 37 million gigawatt-hours yearly if used correctly. This capacity is 10 times the country’s current total electric consumption."