Danish Wind Power Exposed

The (Canada) National Post published an article on May 12, 2009, regarding the success of wind power in Denmark.  The conclusions drawn were not what you might expect.  Michael Trebilcock, a Professor of Law and Economics, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, wrote the article.  The bottom line is very simple according to Professor Trebilcock:

"Next time readers see an ad from Vestas inviting them to "Believe in the wind," they should ask themselves: If wind power has no significant impact on the problem we are trying to solve (i. e., CO2 emissions); if wind power costs two to three times as much as conventional sources of energy; if wind power kills twice as many jobs as it creates through its higher costs (except in the home countries of the major wind turbine manufacturers), then why would any right-minded person accept this invitation? We should also ask our politicians this question."

Vestas, the world's largest wind turbine manufacturer, is based in Denmark.  They have a market share of their industry of between 20 and 25 per cent.  The article points out:

"Most wind turbines run at about 25% of rated capacity, requiring back-up generation for the balance of the time. And because of their unpredictability, they require spinning reserves all the time, while conventional forms of electricity generation typically run at 75% to 95% of capacity utilization." 

The article also points out that data from the International Energy Agency shows that the cost of residential electricity in Denmark in 2007 was US34¢ per kWh -- the highest in Europe.  Denmark has yet to close a single fossil fuel plant and requires 50% more coal-generated electricity to cover wind power's unpredictability, and that pollution and carbon dioxide emissions have risen (by 36% percent in 2006 alone).

The article futher states:

"...Denmark is heavily dependent on 728 local combined heat and power (CHP) plants which depend on fossil fuels. Energy statistics from the Danish Energy Agency for 2007 suggest that comparing changes between 1994 and 2007, coal production has fallen by 40% while natural gas production has increased by 203%. While proponents of wind power point to the 20% of Denmark's electricity output met by wind power, they downplay, for example, that in 2004, 70% of Danish wind power was exported to Sweden, Norway and Germany, typically at a substantial loss, and that wind power accounted for only 6% of Danish consumption. In turn, Denmark imported significant quantities of hydro and nuclear generated power from Sweden, Germany and Norway. Thus, any sensible reading of these numbers renders it implausible that Danish wind power has displaced significant amounts of fossil fuel generation. To the extent that CO2 emissions from Danish electricity generation declined at all, this is as much attributable to hydro and nuclear imports as to wind power."

There are some things to be considered as we search for alternative energy.  Man has been looking for the 'perpetual motion machine' since time began; we need to realize that the machine does not exist.  Alternative energy is a good idea, but let's look at its track record before we decide how much we want to depend on it.