Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
installation
3
%
tower
24
%
wind
tracking
2
%
hydraulics
2
%
rotor blades
24
%
cable and
sensors
3
%
hub and
shaft
6
%
Figure 8.17
Distribution of
costs for a 1.2-MW wind
turbine
(Bundesverband
WindEnergie e.V. BWE/DEWI,
2008).
nacelle
8
%
gear
18
%
generator
10
%
fi nancing is obtained through bank loans. The feed-in compensation is used for
repayment and redemption costs. The surplus funds are distributed among the inves-
tors. If everything goes according to plan, private investors will receive a return of
6 to 10%. If for whatever reason a wind farm does not achieve the output yield
forecast, the investors can end up losing all the money they put into the project.
Offshore wind farms cost about twice as much as those on land. The prerequisite
for these wind farms is a minimum size of several hundred megawatts. Depending
on the distance from shore and water depth, costs can vary considerably between
different farms.
In Germany the feed-in-tariffs for wind turbines are determined by the Renewable
Energy Law (Table 8.2). These tariffs represent the current costs of wind power
electricity. For onshore wind farms the law defi nes a basic compensation and a
higher rate of compensation. Compensation for feed-in electricity is granted over a
20-year period. Wind parks at very favourable locations on land receive the higher
rate over fi ve years; at less optimal sites this compensation is extended over the
Table 8.2
Compensation in cents/kWh for wind turbines in Germany, based on the Renewable
Energy Law.
In operation
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Onshore higher-rate
compensation
8.70
8.53
8.36
8.19
8.03
9.20
9.11
9.02
Onshore basic
compensation
5.50
5.39
5.28
5.17
5.07
5.02
4.97
4.92
Offshore higher-rate
compensation
9.10
9.10
9.10
9.10
8.92
15.00
15.00
15.00
Offshore basic
compensation
6.19
6.19
6.19
6.19
6.07
3.50
3.50
3.50
