Essay by Eric Worrall
h/t JoNova; The promised green Eldorado has turned into a nightmare of big layoffs, supply chain problems, and razor thin margins.
Opinion: Distribution of value in the wind industry is broken – it’s time for a new settlement
27 June 2022 by Ben Hunt
Former Siemens Gamesa insider says turbine manufacturers are in dire need of the bright future they were promised
…
One of the first responses I received was very instructive: “When I joined more than 15 years ago, I was told that I was joining the sector with the brightest and most promising future. The problem is that it is a future that seems never to come.”
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And here is the paradox of the wind energy industry in 2022: if net zero and other decarbonization targets are to be met, the industry should be on the cusp of a growth phase that would dwarf anything experienced so far.
The question is whether the western manufacturing sector will be in any sort of shape to deliver that growth, or it will endure the fate of the long lost solar industry, a spectre now regularly raised by industry leaders.
…
Instead the news is full of stories of lay-offs, factory closures and eye-watering financial losses. And the resources required for the necessary investments are in jeopardy.
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Read more: https://www.windpowermonthly.com/article/1791224/opinion-distribution-value-wind-industry-broken-–-its-time-new-settlement
The problem is obvious. Nobody genuinely wants or needs their product.
A lot of people like the idea of renewable energy, but surveys have repeatedly demonstrated renewables are at the bottom of people’s lists of priorities. Even in green Germany, renewable energy is at the bottom of the list, compared to important issues like cost of living, job security and public safety.
You can see this process of addressing other priorities ahead of green energy happening right now in California. California is planning to send people cash payments to help with the high cost of living. They could have spent that money building renewable energy infrastructure, but politicians decided voter dissatisfaction with the high cost of living is a higher priority.
When politicians run short of taxpayer’s cash, it is renewable energy which consistently loses out to other priorities.
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and just HOW? do they propose to make turbines etc in EU when they have stuffed up their major generation means to keep factories running? yeah they kickstart some of the closed coal plants but until they pull their idiot heads in over Russia gas n oil, theyll be paying hugely just to keep basic amenities functional. and mining machinery uses fuel theyre looking a tad bit short of;-))
We hear a lot about how battery storage will solve the problem with variable power outputs from renewables.
But what is not mentioned is the fact that batteries a both a low voltage device, & that it’s direct current D.C.
So to be able to be fed into the Grid system it has to first be converted to Alternating Current A.C. then transformed from low voltage to the Grids high voltage., about 230,000. Volts AC.
All this takes a lot of energy. Plus as windmills are usually a very long way from the Urban centres where the energy is needed requires long & costly transmission lines.
There is a loss of energy in moving power long distances.
As the batteries usually only have capacity for about 8 minutes, it’s not a practicable way to power a Grid.
It’s expensive, thus needing taxpayers subsides to survive..
No doubt we will be told that to Save the Planet, we must make sacrifices.
So let’s start with our Politicians.
Perhaps a 50 % cut in their salaries may cause them to seriously consider the facts of the so called “Climate Emergency”.
Michael VK5ELL
I can do the above article’s headline one better:
Fact: The Wind Turbine Industry is Running Out of Other People’s Money
You can see this process of addressing other priorities ahead of green energy happening right now in California. California is planning to send people cash payments to help with the high cost of living.
Not to worry there’s plenty more Green taxes to be had for doling out-
California approves lithium tax despite industry’s warnings (msn.com)
They just have to look around at BIG Gummint everywhere if they’re going to lose revenue from fossil fuels and ICEs-
Victoria’s controversial EV road user tax to increase from July 1 (thedriven.io)
Saving the planet takes a lot of admin grants and slushfunding.
A bit late to the comments but still makes one wonder how often this happens:
https://kdvr.com/news/local/wind-tower-falls-over-in-logan-county-colorado/amp/
Oh dear,
what a shame,
never mind.