Retiring worn-out wind turbines could cost billions that nobody has

schwit1 writes: This is a story about death and resurrection, and as with all such stories, faith plays its part.

Texas is by far the leading wind energy producer in the United States, generating more than 20,000 megawatts of electricity each year. That is about one-fourth of the nation's wind-energy production.

We can expect the Texas winds to blow forever, but the colossal turbines which capture the breeze and transform it into electricity will not turn forever. Like all mechanical things devised by man, no matter how clever, they eventually wear out.

And here, as we confront the end days of a wind turbine, our story begins.

Sounds like a made-up problem

[SigNuZX728]

What besides the bearings would wear out? If the blades are composite, they're not going to rust. The towers may be painted steel, but whoever owns them isn't going to let them rust through and fall over. And the line about the cost of labor for stripping copper wire -- they have machines to do that.

Re:

[The Terminator]

Many towers are at least in the lower parts made of reinforced or prestressed concrete which means a lot less maintenance.

Re:

[sjames]

It really does sound like a made up problem. I'll bet no building anywhere in any city is required to escrow demolition costs.

I don't have the time to do the extensive research required, but I'll bet if the source of the "information" is traced back far enough, it'll turn out to be a coal lobbiest.

I especially love the assumption that repair and re-fit are unpossible. The only option is complete demolition.

And what about retiring a worn out coal plant?

[The Terminator]

Not to mention nuclear plants -

And what about repowering? The only really difficult residues are the blades made of composite. The machine can be recycled without any problems and if it contains permanent magnets, there is no better source of neodym!

The tower can usually be reused for a new, more powerful and efficient generator.