Energy analysis and environmental life cycle assessment of a micro-wind turbine

Abstract

The life cycle energy use and environmental impact of an installed micro-wind turbine for domestic (residential) electricity generation has been determined. The turbine examined was a horizontal-axis wind turbine, which has a rotor diameter of 1.7 m, a power rating of 600 W at 12 m/s, and an assumed lifetime of 15 years. The system boundaries for the study encompass energy and material resources in the ground and extend to the point of delivery of electricity. The energy output of the turbine in different terrains has been estimated via a dataset of hourly measured wind speeds, and the environmental impact of producing and maintaining the micro-wind turbine was determined. The environmental performance of the turbine was assessed by assuming that each unit of electricity generated displaces (avoids the use of) a unit of grid electricity. The whole life cycle performance of a micro-wind turbine was found to be dependant on a number of factors, primarily the geographical positioning of the turbine, the available wind resource, and the use of recycled materials within the production of the microturbine.