Why are wind turbines so expensive?

Question

is sea energy any cheaper? how much does one "wave dragon" cost?

Answer 1

Wind turbines aren't expensive.

Assuming they cost 2 million each (very common figure), and realizing that modern windmills can generate 2.5-4 (sometimes even 5) megawatts of power EACH (enough for over 3000 homes), that puts their construction cost at about $800-500 per kW. See ranking below for comparason:

$500-800/ kW for Wind

$1000-2000 kW for Nuclear

$1300/ kW for Tidal (essentialy what a "wave dragon" is)

$1300/ kW for Coal

$1700/ kW for Hydro

$5000/ kW Solar

It's easy to see, wind is cheaper by a lot.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

There are a number of critical components inside a wind turbine for which there is not enough manufacturing capacity -- notably, the "gearbox" and the bearings.  These require specialized castings that allow the parts to withstand a great deal of pressure.  It is expensive to build factories that produce these parts, and many manufacturers are reluctant to expand production because a lot of the market depends on government subsidies, which can go away and leave them with excess manufacturing capacity (for example, the US "production tax credit" for wind is set to expire at the end of 2008--there is talk of extending it, but it may only be extended for a single year, which wouldn't help manufacturers).  As a result of this "bottleneck" in the supply chain, there is a relative scarcity of turbines compared to demand, and the market has therefore driven up the price.  Prices should come down as manufacturers expand capacity, particularly if longer-term government incentives are put in place.    

Answer 4

wind turbines have huge machine that produces little power for their size.  I have a .135 megawatt engine that weights 250 pounds, to scale that up th a wind turbine size means the turbine would weight 2500 pounds, but they don't they weight over 7000 pounds and thats before the weight of the tower, blades and support equipment.  The have 100's of pounds of copper which is very very expensive.

sea turbines?  wave dragons have to have exact areas in the ocean where they will work.  Those areas tend to be off limits by the econuts because of NIMBY attitudes. again, thier costs will be very high and if a hurricane gets tonthem, they are lost.

Answer 5

have you seen a wind mill??  those suckers are giant...and most are built in europe...shipping costs are high and the dollar is low.. [i ***/u/me ur in the US...those wave dragons got to cost more if only the environment they are in...salt water...and they need frogmen to work on them...

Answer 6

The big wind turbines are the most efficient and cost about 2 million dollars each to build and set up.  The blades are made with carbon fibers because they have a high strength to weigh ratio and don't deteriorate.