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how many wind turbines equal a nuclear plant

by Jamil Lemke Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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To put that in perspective, you would need more than 3 million solar panels to produce the same amount of power as a typical commercial reactor or more than 430 wind turbines (capacity factor not included). Nuclear fuel is extremely dense.

Full Answer

How many windmills would it take to power a nuclear power plant?

The biggest, newest, fanciest windmill will produce 12 MW ( Plans for world's 'largest and most powerful' offshore wind turbine unveiled) A nuclear power plant (assuming a Westinghouse US PWR) will make around 1000MW. This might lead you to believe that 84 windmills would do it but that isn’t even close.

Will we ever see a group of 2-MW wind turbines?

Thus, we will never see a group of 2077 2-MW (4154 MW name-plate capacity) wind turbines. The 1154-MW nuclear power plant can typically occupy about 50 acres of land, often with a buffer space of land area of at least 1 square mile.

What is the difference between a wind farm and a nuclear plant?

A wind farm however can shut down just one single turbine at a time. So a wind farm and a nuclear comparison needs to be how many to produce a certain amount of energy ALL THE TIME, and most answers just figure how many turbines to match one single nuclear plant, and that isn’t correct.

How many wind turbines are in a wind farm?

Wind farms are typically built in groups where the name-plate capacity can be 30-50 MW by 10-30 or more turbines. Thus, we will never see a group of 2077 2-MW (4154 MW name-plate capacity) wind turbines.

How far apart should wind turbines be?

How long can a nuclear power plant run?

What is the purpose of the capacity factor graph?

How many MW is a wind farm?

What is the average capacity factor of wind power?

What is wind energy?

What is capacity factor?

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How many wind turbines would it take to replace a nuclear power plant?

Answer (1 of 22): Using the most recent and average data I can easily find. A new wind turbine has about 3.1MW installed capacity on average in EU 2019. A new nuclear reactor averages around 1200 MW. So, simple math 1200/3.1= 387. So you would need 387 wind turbines to replace a single nuclear...

Wind power vs. nuclear power: You decide | Cape Gazette

Two recent stories in the Cape Gazette Oct. 4 and Oct. 11, plus a supportive editorial, tell the story of a proposed connection facility in Fenwick State Park for 15 massive 120-megawatt wind turbines that will stand 853 feet tall, 15 to 20 miles...

Which Is More Scalable, Nuclear Energy Or Wind Energy? - Forbes

Page on gwec.net. Over the four years of 2010 to 2014, China managed to put 4.7 GW of nuclear into operation at the Qinshan Phase II, Ling Ao Phase II, Ningde, Hongyanhe and Yangjiang plants. This ...

How many wind turbines would need to generate the same power as a ...

This question is dependent on a number of factors including, which power units are in question because the generating capacity of nuclear power stations and the power generating capacity of wind ...

Wind vs. Nuclear Energy - Stanford University

Wind vs. Nuclear Energy Kyle Murphy December 14, 2014 Submitted as coursework for PH240, Stanford University, Fall 2014 Introduction

How far apart should wind turbines be?

Optimally, wind turbines should be placed at least 7-15 diameter widths apart. Given that one 2-MW turbine can be taller than the Statue of Liberty, this can cover an enormous amount of land area with extremely tall structures.

How long can a nuclear power plant run?

The nuclear power plant can run at least at 90 percent of its capacity factor over a year. In fact, it probably could run at 100 percent of its capacity factor for up to 18 months-and this has been done by many nuclear power plants. The 9,000,000+ MWhs it produces could power a city of almost a million people.

What is the purpose of the capacity factor graph?

The purpose of this graphic is to show a visual comparison of wind power to nuclear power with respect to capacity factors. Although there are many other factors to compare, capacity factor is a straightforward data-driven comparison that is an easy concept to understand-but often overlooked.

How many MW is a wind farm?

Wind farms are typically built in groups where the name-plate capacity can be 30-50 MW by 10-30 or more turbines. Thus, we will never see a group of 2077 2-MW (4154 MW name-plate capacity) wind turbines. The 1154-MW nuclear power plant can typically occupy about 50 acres of land, often with a buffer space of land area of at least 1 square mile.

What is the average capacity factor of wind power?

For wind power, the average capacity factor is 25 percent, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

What is wind energy?

Wind generators, or wind turbines, have become a popular symbol of clean carbon free electricity. Unlike other sources of renewable energy such as hydro-electricity or geothermal, wind and solar power are variable producers of electricity.

What is capacity factor?

Although there are many other factors to compare, capacity factor is a straightforward data-driven comparison that is an easy concept to understand-but often overlooked. Jason Correia is an independent graphic artist and web designer who has worked on projects with PopAtomic Studios and Atomic Insights.

How many MW is a wind farm?

Wind farms are typically built in groups where the name-plate capacity can be 30-50 MW by 10-30 or more turbines. Thus, we will never see a group of 2077 2-MW (4154 MW name-plate capacity) wind turbines. The 1154-MW nuclear power plant can typically occupy about 50 acres of land, often with a buffer space of land area of at least 1 square mile.

How far apart should wind turbines be?

Wind turbines on wind farms would not be packed closely together as shown in this graphic. Optimally, wind turbines should be placed at least 7-15 diameter widths apart. Given that one 2-MW turbine can be taller than the Statue of Liberty, this can cover an enormous amount of land area with extremely tall structures.

How long can a nuclear power plant run?

The nuclear power plant can run at least at 90 percent of its capacity factor over a year. In fact, it probably could run at 100 percent of its capacity factor for up to 18 months-and this has been done by many nuclear power plants. The 9,000,000+ MWhs it produces could power a city of almost a million people.

What is the average capacity factor of wind power?

For wind power, the average capacity factor is 25 percent, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

What is wind energy?

Wind generators, or wind turbines, have become a popular symbol of clean carbon free electricity. Unlike other sources of renewable energy such as hydro-electricity or geothermal, wind and solar power are variable producers of electricity.

Is wind power variable?

Wind power is dilute and variable, so some may argue this isn't a representative comparison. We often read in news stories about a wind turbine being built that "can supply energy for 300 homes.". Such limited information creates a misleading impression that one turbine will produce that power continuously. If wind power is compared ...

Is wind energy a variable source?

Like most electrical generators, the power output from nuclear and wind are integrated throughout the grid, although wind as a variable source does present some challenges for grid operators .

What is the average capacity factor of nuclear power plants?

In addition, nuclear energy facilities have an average capacity factor of 90 percent, much higher than intermittent sources like wind and solar. By contrast, wind farm capacity factors range from 32 to 47 percent, depending on differences in wind resources in a given area and improvements in turbine technology.

How much land does a nuclear plant need?

Land Needs for Wind, Solar Dwarf Nuclear Plant’s Footprint. A 1,000-megawatt nuclear facility needs just over one square mile. Intermittent wind and solar need much more area to generate the same power. No U.S. wind or solar facility generates as much as the average nuclear plant.

How many MW is needed for a solar power plant?

A solar PV facility must have an installed capacity of 3,300 MW and 5,400 MW to match a 1,000-MW nuclear facility’s output, requiring between 45 and 75 square miles.

Does wind power produce electricity?

No U.S. wind or solar facility generates as much as the average nuclear plant. Wind farms require up to 360 times as much land area to produce the same amount of electricity as a nuclear energy facility, a Nuclear Energy Institute analysis has found.

How often do wind turbines operate?

But wind turbines only produce power intermittently — when the wind blows. In contrast, coal plants operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When periodic maintenance and other temporary shutdowns are included, a coal plant such as Presque Isle actually operates 80-90 percent of the time. That’s according to Jason Hayes, the director of environmental policy at Michigan’s Mackinac Center for Public Policy who also says that wind power needs a backup plan.

How many wind turbines are there in Michigan?

There are 883 wind turbines operating in Michigan, and the number is expected to rise. That’s because a new law passed at the end of 2016 increased an existing mandate that utilities get 10 percent of their power from renewable sources to 14 percent.

What is the Capitol confidential?

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.

Is Presque Isle Power Plant shutting down?

The coal-fired Presque Isle Power Plant is scheduled to be shut down by 2020 if regulators approve. The plant is located on 65 acres set back from the Lake Superior shore in Marquette. The plan is to replace the plant’s generating capacity with two natural gas plants.

How much CO2 does coal produce?

Let’s start with CO2, the primary greenhouse gas. Coal generation produces about a ton of CO2 per MWh of generation. That means that the 3.15 TWh of generated electricity from coal produced over 3 megatons of CO2.

How many wind turbines would be needed to replace everything a coal plant gives us?

What will it take to replace all of the things it provides us with? An infinite number of wind turbines would be required to replace everything a coal plant gives us. If it was just the electricity, only 120 to 350 modern wind turbines would be required, but that’s just the start.

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How much electricity would 720 MW generate?

720 MW of capacity running 24/7/365 with a capacity factor of 50% would generate about 3.15 TWh of electricity in a year.

What is the most radiation from human sources?

The majority of radiation from human sources that the average person is exposed to is from coal emissions as carbon-rich dirt with trace radioactive elements is burned. Once again, zero radiation from wind turbines, so an infinite number required.

What is the capacity factor of coal plants?

As coal plants are shutting down, they’ve also been dropping in capacity factor, and now have an average of under 50% . We’ll use 50% as our capacity factor for coal.

What is the capacity factor of a generation unit?

Capacity factor is the percentage of a year’s potential maximum generation that is actually achieved. If a generation unit could generate 100 MWh but actually generates 70 MWh — that’s a capacity factor of 70%. It’s based on a demand, market conditions, supply, maintenance, and the like.

How far apart should wind turbines be?

Optimally, wind turbines should be placed at least 7-15 diameter widths apart. Given that one 2-MW turbine can be taller than the Statue of Liberty, this can cover an enormous amount of land area with extremely tall structures.

How long can a nuclear power plant run?

The nuclear power plant can run at least at 90 percent of its capacity factor over a year. In fact, it probably could run at 100 percent of its capacity factor for up to 18 months-and this has been done by many nuclear power plants. The 9,000,000+ MWhs it produces could power a city of almost a million people.

What is the purpose of the capacity factor graph?

The purpose of this graphic is to show a visual comparison of wind power to nuclear power with respect to capacity factors. Although there are many other factors to compare, capacity factor is a straightforward data-driven comparison that is an easy concept to understand-but often overlooked.

How many MW is a wind farm?

Wind farms are typically built in groups where the name-plate capacity can be 30-50 MW by 10-30 or more turbines. Thus, we will never see a group of 2077 2-MW (4154 MW name-plate capacity) wind turbines. The 1154-MW nuclear power plant can typically occupy about 50 acres of land, often with a buffer space of land area of at least 1 square mile.

What is the average capacity factor of wind power?

For wind power, the average capacity factor is 25 percent, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

What is wind energy?

Wind generators, or wind turbines, have become a popular symbol of clean carbon free electricity. Unlike other sources of renewable energy such as hydro-electricity or geothermal, wind and solar power are variable producers of electricity.

What is capacity factor?

Although there are many other factors to compare, capacity factor is a straightforward data-driven comparison that is an easy concept to understand-but often overlooked. Jason Correia is an independent graphic artist and web designer who has worked on projects with PopAtomic Studios and Atomic Insights.

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1.How many wind turbines would it take to replace a …

Url:https://www.quora.com/How-many-wind-turbines-would-it-take-to-replace-a-nuclear-power-plant

30 hours ago It takes almost 700 wind turbines to replace the electricity production of a nuclear power plant the size of Mühleberg, which represents only 10% of the power of our nuclear park. How much …

2.Wind power to nuclear power infographic comparison - ANS

Url:https://www.ans.org/news/article-933/wind-nuclear-infographic/

20 hours ago It takes almost 700 wind turbines to replace the electricity production of a nuclear power plant the size of Mühleberg, which represents only 10% of the power of our nuclear park. How many …

3.Wind Power and Nuclear Power -- ANS / Nuclear Newswire

Url:https://www.ans.org/news/article-1462/wind-power-and-nuclear-power/

3 hours ago  · Wind farms are typically built in groups where the name-plate capacity can be 30-50 MW by 10-30 or more turbines. Thus, we will never see a group of 2077 2-MW (4154 MW …

4.Land Needs for Wind, Solar Dwarf Nuclear Plant’s Footprint

Url:https://www.nei.org/news/2015/land-needs-for-wind-solar-dwarf-nuclear-plants

21 hours ago  · It would take 550 wind turbines to equal one nuclear reactor if they both operated at their maximum capacity all the time, which is not the case. To correct for this, you need …

5.It Would Take 600 Wind Turbines to Replace One …

Url:https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/it-would-take-600-wind-turbines-to-replace-one-closing-up-coal-plant

3 hours ago  · Wind farms are typically built in groups where the name-plate capacity can be 30-50 MW by 10-30 or more turbines. Thus, we will never see a group of 2077 2-MW (4154 MW …

6.Replacing A Coal Plant Takes An Infinite Number Of …

Url:https://cleantechnica.com/2020/11/27/replacing-a-coal-plant-takes-an-infinite-number-of-wind-turbines/

34 hours ago  · Taking these factors into account, a wind farm would need an installed capacity between 1,900 megawatts and 2,800 MW to generate the same amount of electricity in a year …

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