100 Years ?

[oldgit]

Time it was estimated for a wind turbine to pay its way according to experts, assume the area is now totally devoid of boaters these days who have all fled far less dangerous waters. ?
January 2012. MBM.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

What a load of rubbish.

 

[julians]

Google reckons the payback period fora large wind turbine (whatever that is) is 4 to 8 years.

 

[Alicatt]

Google reckons the payback period fora large wind turbine (whatever that is) is 4 to 8 years.

When we put in solar panels they said they would pay for themselves after 12 years. We installed them in 2012 and they should pay for themselves next year, as long as the govt. does not change the playing field again...

 

[oldgit]

Hours of fun to be had disenterring alternative " facts ? " usually spouted as the view of the common sailor in the street, warm beer in one hand and a fender in the other.

 

[penberth3]

Google reckons the payback period fora large wind turbine (whatever that is) is 4 to 8 years.

That must include the generous subsidies to operators.

 

[New Boater]

Thought this post was an invite to your next birthday!!

 

[Bitter-End]

That must include the generous subsidies to operators.

Governments generally guarantee a certain minimum price to buy the energy from the operator, so investors know they won't go bankrupt if the energy prices fall off a cliff at some point.
You might call it a subsidy, but AFAIK, those prices aren't significantly higher than normal energy prices. And modern wind turbines are pretty efficient and competitive nowadays, but have a huge up front costs.

Either way, author was being sarcastic, payback time is nowhere near 100 years. If it were, wind farms wouldn't exist at all.

 

[oldgit]

and more from the boating fraternity in MBM.

April 2011.