New research finds that wind farms actually warm up the surface of the land underneath them during the night, a phenomenon that could put a damper on efforts to expand wind energy as a green energy solution.
Researchers used satellite data from 2003 to 2011 to examine surface temperatures across as wide swath of west Texas, which has built four of the world's largest wind farms. The data showed a direct correlation between night-time temperatures increases of 0.72 degrees C (1.3 degrees F) and the placement of the farms.
"Given the present installed capacity and the projected growth in installation of wind farms across the world, I feel that wind farms, if spatially large enough, might have noticeable impacts on local to regional meteorology," Liming Zhou, associate professor at the State University of New York, Albany and author of the paper published April 29 in Nature Climate Change said in an e-mail to Discovery News.
Analysts say wind power is a good complement to solar power, because winds often blow more strongly at night while solar power is only available during daytime hours. But Zhou and his colleagues found that turbulence behind the wind turbine blades stirs up a layer of cooler air that usually settles on the ground at night, and mixes in warm air that is on top.
That layering effect is usually reversed during the daytime, with warm air on the surface and cooler air higher up."The year-to-year land surface temperature over wind farms shows a persistent upward trend from 2003 to 2011, consistent with the increasing number of operational wind turbines with time," Zhou said.
FAA data shows that the number of wind turbines over the study region has risen from 111 in 2003 to 2358 in 2011, according to the study.The warming could hurt local farmers, who have already suffered through a killer drought over the past few years. Texas agriculture contributes $80 billion to the state's economy, second only to petrochemicals, according to the Texas Department of Agriculture.
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
Liming Zhou, associate professor at the State University of New York, Albany and author of the paper published April 29 in Nature Climate Change said in an e-mail to Discovery News. I just thought it was interesting that a professor from Albany did the study. It makes total sense that if you put 2500 wind turbines in one area you will generate heat from the motors and I guess it's enough to change climate conditions.
And think about it, the study is coming just miles from where said generators are actually manufactured! And how much pollution is put into the air to send those generators from the Schenectady GE Plant to their final destination?
And think about it, the study is coming just miles from where said generators are actually manufactured! And how much pollution is put into the air to send those generators from the Schenectady GE Plant to their final destination?
they're probably selling them to china, who in turn sells them back to us at a markup.
The only place you can generate electricity without creating heat is fantasy land. You want to do something about it, throw away all your electronic devices, and walk to work. There is no "safe energy". Eis created by turning something to a more active form, producting heat as a bi-product.
I don't spell check! Sorry... If you include "No offense" in a statement, chances are, your statement is offensive.
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