14 DAY TRIAL // According to the findings of an investigation carried out by researchers working with the Imperial College Business School in the UK, wind farms have a greater life expectancy than previously assumed.
Thus, they can remain productive for up to 25 years and not just 10, as it has been previously claimed.
In a report, the specialists detail that they have decided to study the life span of wind turbines in order to determine whether the country's plans to have 15% of its energy demand met by renewables by 2020 makes sense financially-wise.
They explain that, not very long ago, one other study argued that the energy generating capacity of wind farms was likely to drop by over 30% in just 10 years' time after their becoming operational.
Needless to say, this claim that wind turbines would have to be replaced after just one decade made the idea of harvesting wind power rather unappealing.
After carrying out a comprehensive analysis of the wind turbines fleet currently up and running across the UK, the researchers found that, contrary to expectations, farms built back in the 1990s still rolled out some 75% of their original output.
Besides, evidence at hand indicates that they would remain productive until they turned 25 years old, Click Green tells us.
As far as wind farms set in place in earlier years are concerned, the Imperial College Business School researchers say that their current performance suggests that their life span will exceed 25 years.
“There have been concerns about the costs of maintaining aging wind farms and whether they are worth investing in. This study gives a 'thumbs up' to the technology and shows that renewable energy is an asset for the long term,” Professor Richard Green explains.
“Our study provides some certainty, helping investors to see that wind farms are an effective long-term investment and a viable way to help the UK tackle future energy challenges,” adds D. Iain Staffell.