Coal and breeders will not be ready in time to replace the shortfall in oil and natural gas. Calculations of the year-average energy available from wind generators involves a factor which relates the cube of the mean annual wind (A) to the mean of the cubes of the instantaneous wind velocities (B). B/A is 2-7. Allowance is made for a number of efficiency factors. The practical equation for electricity obtained after conversion to hydrogen, passage and reconversion to electricity, is:
for a rotor of 100 m in a location where the mean annual wind is v k.p.h. Thus, for v = 30, -Pelee ~ 5 MW per rotor.
Below latitude 35, v = 30 is available over a front of about 3000 km on the sea. In many regions of the world, v = 25 (Pelee = 3"1 MW) is available at sea. For the total energy consumption (including those now provided by oil and natural gas) for 106 people, about 2500 rotors located in a wind of 25-30 k.p.h, would suffice. The practicality of wind rotors of 100 m or equivalent radius need proving. Designs are proposed. Electrolysis of seawater evolves chlorine and its reconversion to oxygen is not a difficulty, but an extra cost. Hydrogen transfer up to 4000 km would be economic. Environmental considerations are optimal. The sea is the best location. Undersea storage is preferable. A projected cost of electricity at 1000 miles from the rotor is 8 mils kWh -1.
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.
Wind belts
Energy sources Wind energy Wind energy means Wind pattern factor Wind rotors