Winter: Not A Good Season For Renewable Energy Production

December 26, 2008

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Winter may not be a good time for renewable energy production: biodiesel congeals in tanks, solar panels generate less power because there is less sun and wind turbine blades ice up, New York Times reports.

Last year a Summit Stage bus stalled in the middle of the night on Interstate 70 in the Colorado mountains because a 20 percent biodiesel blend congealed in the freezing temperature. Since then the bus line avoids biodiesel from November to March, and uses only a 5 percent blend in the summertime.

Unlike solar panels that generate less energy in winter because of less sun, wind turbine typically generate more power because it is generally windier than summer. Green Mountain Power, which operates a small wind farm says it gets more than twice the monthly production in winter as in August.

But some observers say cold weather is hazardous for wind turbines because the machines can hurl chunks of ice as they rotate. To alleviate the situation, some turbines are painted black to absorb sunlight and melt the ice faster.

Ron Stimmel, an expert on small wind turbines at the American Wind Energy Association, disagrees that wind turbine are dangerous in winter. He told the New York Times that large turbines automatically turn off when ice builds up, and that small turbines will slow and stop because the ice prevents them from spinning.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Enhance Sustainability. Improve Profitability.

Learn how at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader