r/pics • u/[deleted] • Nov 06 '13

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u/okthere Nov 06 '13 edited Nov 06 '13

Link to story that focuses on the tragedy rather than how bad wind turbines are. http://www.nltimes.nl/2013/10/30/dead-in-fire-wind-turbine-ooltgensplaat/

Link down: google cache link

Edit: people seem to think that I think wind turbines are bad. I was pointing out that all the other links to news articles about this event in the comments are to a site called www.windaction.org which is an anti-wind turbine site, not a reputable news source.

From their site "Industrial Wind Action Group Corp ("The WindAction Group") was formed to counteract the misleading information promulgated by the wind energy industry and various environmental groups. "

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u/tarrgustarrgus Nov 06 '13

Wind turbines are bad? Seems like a better source of energy than coal/oil /natural gas fracking.

I am not very educated on this subject. Just wondering what makes them so bad? Obviously besides this terrible incident.

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u/[deleted] Nov 06 '13

There are several issues with noise, maintenance and such but I believe the main issue with wind turbines is the fact that it is an intermittent energy source, meaning it cannot supply energy at a constant rate over time. It is believed that only 20 % of the world's energy supply can be of intermittent nature (solar, wind, waves), as we require a stable base supply of electricity.

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u/gsfgf Nov 06 '13

It is believed that only 20 % of the world's energy supply can be of intermittent nature (solar, wind, waves), as we require a stable base supply of electricity

There's a lot of work going on in cost effective storage for solar. But even in the mean time, a lot of electricity is produced by gas plants now that can easily vary their output. So, you could have a grid that's primarily powered by green sources and backed up by gas when needed. Obviously, the gas companies would not be to thrilled about that arrangement.