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Forum Index : Windmills : Life Cycle Analysis
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kate Newbie  Joined: 08/04/2007 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1 |
HELP!!!! Does anyone know of any resources that can help me do a life cycle analysis of the average small wind turbine? (I know its a bit vague but at the moment anything i can get my hands on would be useful!) I need to find out the raw materials & their amounts, manufacturing processes and installation processes to be able to do a LCA and cannot find them anywhere. Thanks Kate |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5116 |
Hi Kate Interresting question. Do you mean the home made windmills, or the commercially made windmills, like the chinese 200 watt windmills or Air-X series. The home made windmills can be very cheap, depending on the skills and resources available to the builder.If we work with a figure of 200 watts so we can compare to the chinese windmill, and you had the raw materials, you could build a windmill for under $50. You would only need a few items like nuts and bolts, and some electronics, items that cant be made at home. But the tower, blades, etc can be made from just about any raw material. So that would give us 25c per watt (200watts / $50) One of those Chinese windmills go for about $400, and all the hard work is done. Works out at $2 per watt. Life, well that depends on how well made the windmill was. I have a couple of home made windmills 2 or more years old, and they are still working fine. But I do need to check them every year and add some grease. I would expect to replace bearings every 5 years, and touch up the paint. I also have a southern cross windmill pumping water, and by its model number I know its over 50 years old, could be up to 90years old. So its paid for itself in energy ( lifting water ) several hundred times over. Its a tough question. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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