Life-cycle energy analysis of wind turbines - an assessment of the effect of size on energy yield

Abstract

Wind turbines, used to generate non-fossil fuel based electrical power, are typically considered to take only a number of months to produce as much energy as is required in their manufacture and operation. With a life-expectancy of upwards of 20 years, the renewable energy produced by wind turbines over their life can be many times greater than that embodied in their production. Many previous studies of the life-cycle energy requirements of wind turbines are based on methods of assessment now known to be incomplete. These studies may underestimate the energy embodied in wind turbines by more than 50, potentially overestimating the energy yield of those systems and possibly affecting the comp..