Many conversations have popped up over the years regarding the lasting efficiency of wind turbines. One study suggested that the productivity wind turbines decreases by one third after only 10 years, causing the cost of maintenance to outweigh any financial benefits provided by wind farms.
It seems, however, that this is not the case at all. Recent research has proved that wind turbines can remain productive with no need for upgrades for up to 25 years.
This study looked at some of the oldest wind turbines put in place across Europe, with some dating back to the 1990s. Researchers also looked at the original expected energy output for these turbines to understand the level of energy they should expect to see generating from them today. After 19 years of operation, these wind turbines are still producing three-quarters of their original energy output. This is nearly twice the amount other studies claimed these wind turbines should be producing at this point in time, dispelling any conversations that suggest these wind farms would require more maintenance then they are worth.
The Imperial College of London also weighs in on this matter, discussing the powerful abilities of the newest wind turbines across Europe. While this study has mainly focused on turbines operating since the 1990s, researchers from London explain that since these original turbines have been constructed, we have had more technological advances that mean newer turbines could have a longer lifespan than that of these turbines still operating 19 years later.
The researchers behind this study are planning a new study to monitor newer wind farms over longer periods of time. By looking at the newest wind turbine technology, they can get a better sense of how long we can expect modern wind turbines to last.
This study set out to uncover if wind farms are a financially secure source of renewable energy, and these findings have given wind farms a thumbs up to the technology behind them, and shows that the popularity of wind farms may continue to grow in the future.
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