Wind Turbines Get Bigger, Wind Power Gets Cheaper

Sky's the limit? Reducing wind energy costs through increased turbine size; A new Berkeley Lab study shows significant potential for further turbine scaling

Ryan Wiser, Joachim Seel, Bentham Paulos, Maureen Hand, December 19, 2016 (Utility Dive)

“The growing size of wind turbines has helped lower the cost of wind energy to the point that it is economically competitive with fossil-fuel alternatives in some locations…[and] Recent research suggests that land-based wind turbines and, especially, offshore turbines have room to grow, offering the promise that this already-mature energy technology will see still lower costs in the future…According to the wind experts, larger turbines are on the horizon, enabling further reduction in the cost of wind energy on land and offshore. Turbine design will continue to vary by market and project site, but the experts forecast continued evolutionary growth in average turbine size on land, and more revolutionary growth offshore…” click here for more

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