Each wind turbine in the wind park near Freiburg cost 2 million Euros. Six of these 1.8 MWh wind turbines were installed at a cost of 13 million Euros. Out of this total individuals invested in a share of the operating company in order to provide 4.6 million in capital. Five hundred and twenty people invested a minimum of 3000 Euros. Each 3000 Euros generates 12000 kWh. Each investor gets money back over twenty years from2003 to 2023. Over this time each investor gets 280% of their money back. To start with each investor gets 3% in the first year, then 5% the next year until in the last year the investor gets 20%. The tower is 98 metres height. On the top is is the 100 tonne generator. The tower was made of concrete since it is too difficult to bring steel up the mountain. The concrete tower was constructed over about three weeks. Unlike the first generation of wind turbines this new generation has no gear. The blades turn 22 times per minute transforming DC to AC. 95% of German wind turbines are privately financed. People invest because they get money back. The federal subsidy makes it a good investment. Normal electricity has a once cent per kilowatt additional cost added so that wind and other renewable’s can be purchased at a premium. Wind gets paid a couple cents more than conventional power. Solar gets paid many times more.
@windturbinesinc you neglect the fact that wind being an uncontrolable resource is impossible to efficiently utilitze. If you don’t mind your lights going out everytime the wind isn’t gusting then I guess it is viable oh yeah, not to mention the fact that it generally only produces about 30% of its rated output. Doesn’t seem so practical when you actually have facts.
It is practical to use wind power since this is renewable and the source is unlimited. It is already existing in the environment. The good thing is that, we are able to to use our natural resources such as wind in a healthy and beneficial way. If many people learn the use the power of the wind, our future will be healthier and big money can be saved out of this which is very helpful and beneficial.
@1bfunusa not all of them are like that
Not bad to drive by or see at a distance, but I live 1662 feet from turbine 1 in Falmouth, MA 02540 and the noise drives me nuts. A helicopter in continuous turn up. Listen to that for 24 hours/day and you may change your tune about wind power. Lots of towns don’t have room for appropriate setback so they stick them in and write some of us abutters off as collateral damage. That’s okay. We are saving the planet. But I’ve gone crazy and my life now sucks. Big wind can be hazardous to your health.
good video . seems like a very good idea
The key take-away here is he gets a 280% return on investment over the 20 years. Doing well by doing good – that’s the kind of concept that will make renewable energy independent of government subsidy.
Interesting video here…According to the Department of Energy (DOE) 40% of all energy used in the US be it oil,gas, wind, solar etc is converted into electricity. The power shortage is a major issue and businesses cannot afford blackouts. Hence companies like Pacific Crest Transformers are working in the renewable energy sector wind. It offers custom built energy transformers for wind energy farms. Check the website for more…
Enercon ROCKS
ok then
so true.
hmmmm……always good to thing about how to save nature
I believe so but at the moment scientists don’t think its a good idea because that may cuase pollution as well. But the boiling of water idea might be a water power source.
damn right
any way there is also water power right?
You sure got that right. Imagine a world without dust and mucky smog. It will be a beautiful planet blue and atmospherically outrageous dont you think?
come to germany, i will show you my numbers on solar energy my house sells to the grid.
Coal will run out someday, so will oil and natural gas, it’s lucky that all the “renewable” energy sources are good for the enviroment. Wind and Solar power are definately the best for the Planet.
Similar to the Westmill Wind Farm in the UK. Blow wind Blow!!!
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MADAME SARKOZY
This is not a good investment. Please research this before you decide that wind energy is the right choice. I have and I’m not happy with what I’ve heard and found. Please don’t jump to the conculsion that this is a good thing.
A good investment. This is carbon trading for the people. Lets have more of it. Where can I see the numbers on paper ?
“The federal subsidy makes it a good investment”. This is not private funding.
Congratulation!
Did you make this film by yourself when you were in Germany or is it copied from other?
I knew that these towers were made of steel but this is the first time when I hear about a tower made of concreate. It seams to be unique configuration.
However you may be wrong when you said “The blades turn 22 times per minute transforming DC to AC”. I think that blades transform only wind in rotating movement and DC current produced by generator is converted in AC using an inverter.
The video claims that 95% of money, for wind power in Germany,comes from private investors.
i think we should better support our troops in iraq instead of doing those germans stuff.
If USA invested just $5 per day per household for 32 years, that would be enough to power a Billion homes!