Global Potential for Wind-Generated Electricity
| Title: | Global Potential for Wind-Generated Electricity |
| Author: |
Lu, Xi; McElroy, Michael Brendon; Kiviluoma, Juha
Note: Order does not necessarily reflect citation order of authors. |
| Citation: | Lu, Xi, Michael B. McElroy, and Juha Kiviluoma. 2009. Global potential for wind-generated electricity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 106(27): 10933-10938. |
| Full Text & Related Files: |
Lu_Wind_PNAS.pdf (867.2Kb; PDF) 
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| Abstract: | The potential of wind power as a global source of electricity is assessed by using winds derived through assimilation of data from a variety of meteorological sources. The analysis indicates that a network of land-based 2.5-megawatt (MW) turbines restricted to nonforested, ice-free, nonurban areas operating at as little as 20% of their rated capacity could supply >40 times current worldwide consumption of electricity, >5 times total global use of energy in all forms. Resources in the contiguous United States, specifically in the central plain states, could accommodate as much as 16 times total current demand for electricity in the United States. Estimates are given also for quantities of electricity that could be obtained by using a network of 3.6-MW turbines deployed in ocean waters with depths <200 m within 50 nautical miles (92.6 km) of closest coastlines. |
| Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0904101106 |
| Other Sources: | http://environment.harvard.edu/docs/faculty_pubs/mcelroy_global.pdf |
| Terms of Use: | This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of-use#LAA |
| Citable link to this page: | http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:5029362 |
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