The new estimates of wind power potential take into consideration taller and more efficient turbines. (Photo courtesy of the NREL
A study from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows that the United States has a lot of wind, and that wind could generate a lot of energy. Samara Freemark has the story:
Transcript
A study from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows that the United States has a lot of wind – and that wind could generate a lot of energy. Samara Freemark has the story:
Researchers at the Lab estimated the total amount of wind power that could be generated in the United States at more than 10 times the total electricity we use today.
The figure comes to 37 million gigawatts of electricity per year.
That’s much higher than an estimate researchers put out in 1993.
Dennis Elliot is with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. He says that’s largely due to turbine improvements.
“The turbines are much bigger. We’re looking at heights of 80 meters,
compared to the old technology had heights of about 50 meters above ground. The
higher you go up, the more energy is available in the wind. The wind speeds get
greater.”
Elliot says the biggest challenge now is building the infrastructure to tap that energy, and move it around the country.
For The Environment Report, I’m Samara Freemark.