Wind Power Generation - Renewable Energy: Technology, Economics and Environment - page 339

currently most common technologies. The following comparisons may vary tremen-

dously for different converter types made of different materials or manufactured
by different technologies.

Table 7.2 Characteristic parameters of reference wind power stations

1.5 MW class 2.5 MW class 5.0 MW class

Nominal capacity in kW 1,500

70
85
98
92
20
1,800
2,500
4,500

2,500
80
100
98
92
20
1,800
2,500
4,500

5,000
126
135
98
92
20
1,800
2,500
4,500

Rotor diameter in m

Tower height in m

Reliability in %

Park efficiency in %

Technical life time in a

Full-load hours in h/a

Site 1

Site 2

Site 3

Since wind power generation depends essentially on the available wind quanti-
ties, additionally three sites are assumed. Site 1 represents an average location on
a foothill. Site 2 is a favourable place at the coast. And site 3 represents a very
promising location on a windy island.
The potential power generation for any converter type based at one of the ref-
erence sites is calculated by the characteristic power curve of the converter and
the wind distribution (see Section 2.3) on site. With regard to wind distribution,
Weilbull distribution of form factor 2 has been assumed. The resulting full-load
hours (i.e. the ratio of approximate annual power generation to nominal converter
capacity) of various wind converters of the same capacity are illustrated in Ta-
ble 7.2. Furthermore, generation availability time of 98 % (i.e. reliability) and a
wind park efficiency of 92 % have been assumed.
To assess the costs incurred by wind power utilisation first variable and fix
costs of the reference plants are discussed. Subsequently, power generation costs
are calculated in relation to the respective available wind quantity.

Investments. Investment costs encompass the production costs, transportation and
assembly, foundation, grid connection as well as miscellaneous costs (including
design and infrastructure costs), whereby converter size and site conditions have a
considerable influence on the cost structure /7-24/.
Overall costs of current converters reveal the magnitudes indicated in Ta-
ble 7.3. They have been calculated on the basis of a representative market average
and in relation to the tower height assumed for Table 7.2. The total cost (i.e. con-
verter costs including grid connection, installation and miscellaneous costs) for a
converter of an installed capacity of 1.5 MW add up to approximately 1.6 Mio. €
(1,090 €/kW). Three quarters of the costs account for the converter. For the
2.5 MW converter total investment costs amount to about 2.6 Mio. €
(1,040 €/kW). And the costs of the 5 MW wind mill are in the order of magnitude