A new generation of wind turbine is under development. The plan envisions land-based turbines with a rated power of 4 MW and a diameter of 125 m (about the same as the London Eye, one of the world’s...

A new generation of wind turbine is under development. The plan envisions land-based turbines with a rated power of 4 MW and a diameter of 125 m (about the same as the London Eye, one of the world’s largest Ferris wheels). One turbine requires 410 metric tons of materials and construction consumes an energy of 2
 10⁷
MJ. The anticipated capacity factor, C, is 0.3.

(a) What are the nominal material and energy intensities of the new turbines? How do these compare with the values for existing land-based turbines in Table 12.2?

(b) What is the expected energy payback time?