Possible Means of Large-scale Use of Wind as a Source of Energy

Abstract

To circumvent the coming energy crisis the development of new sources is popularly associated with the gasification of coal and with atomic breeder reactors, although solar and nuclear fusion sources are distant possibilities. But coal is limited in supply and breeders will not be ready in time to replace the remaining oil and natural gas; wind offers a more likely possibility.The practical equation for electricity obtained after conversion to hydrogen, passage, and reconversion to electricity, is:for a rotor of 100 m radius in a location where the mean annual wind is v k.p.h. Thus, for v = 30, Pelec ≃ 5 MW per rotor.The concept of large sea-borne rotors in high-velocity wind-belts with long-distance hydrogen transmission offers a more readily attainable (and more environmentally acceptable) prospect than atomic, or solar, possibilities.