Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Bonus and Nordtank machines located in the Altamont Pass. Such
practice is only possible because both turbine types used the same
blade manufactured by Alternegy
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until the mid-1980s.
Leaving wind turbines unprotected and exposed to weather
and climate has never been considered a problem. The hot but
dry climate of California allows machines to run this way and
components can be stored on the ground with few or no protection
measurements. There is no aggressive humidity causing any form
of destruction to the components.
Another highly discussed issue is clearly visible in the
Altamont Pass. For decades the fast spinning American machines
often caused heavy troubles between wildlife protectors and their
organisations, wind farm operators, residents and other institu-
tions. The machines killed thousands of birds annually. Thus, the
Altamont Kenetech modified some strings of machines with one,
two or three black or black-striped blades. This was to create
visual imbalance and easier recognition for the thousands of
birds passing the Altamont area every year. Though lots of further
measurements were taken by Kenetech and other companies,
the wildlife problem was never solved entirely and still interest
conflicts continue today. Inoperative turbines have become rare.
Unlike two decades ago, turbines only stand idle for maintenance
reason but not due to failure of technical concepts.
23.3.2
Why California's Wind Farms Are Unique
Today there are thousands of wind farms in the world and just
few countries still without a wind farm or at least a single turbine.
And even before the Californian wind rush, wind farms existed in
some countries (United States, Denmark). They were, however,
of comparably small size and consisted of few units.
There are several positive and negative characteristics only
to be attributed to the Californian development that strongly
separate it from all other developments in the world:
• California's wind farms were the first. They have impressively
given proof that it is possible to use wind power on a large-
scale. Wind energy is able to satisfy the needs of hundreds of
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Alternegy was the largest Danish blade manufacturer in the 1980s. After the
crash, it was surpassed by famous LM.
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