Wind energy is not a new way of producing renewable energy, as the first commercial wind farms began to be built in the second half of the 20th century. Consequently, a growing number of wind turbines in Europe are nearing the end of their operational lifespan. It is important to note that older technology is less efficient compared to modern models.
Replacing outdated wind turbines with newer, more efficient ones is one way to revitalize aging wind farms. According to an analysis by WindEurope, renewing existing wind turbines could reduce the number of turbines in a wind farm by 25 percent, while more than tripling the wind farm’s output and quadrupling the output per turbine.
This improvement is attributed to several factors. First, modern turbines feature longer rotor blades, increasing the total swept area and enabling the capture of more wind.
Second, modern models have better capacity factors—representing the ratio of actual energy production to the maximum possible capacity of a wind turbine. Thus, newer turbines can produce more energy more efficiently compared to older models, which were unable to maximize their potential.
Third, advanced blade design improves efficiency in converting wind’s kinetic energy into electrical energy. Simply put, modern designs adapt better to changes in wind speed and direction. Fourth, new models operate more efficiently even in low-wind conditions. These are just some of the advantages of modern turbines.
Thus, fewer modern turbines are required to produce the same amount of energy compared to older models.
More:
- EU Innovation Fund Supports Technology Development in Wind Energy Sector
- Sweden Closes the Baltic Sea to Offshore Wind Farms – 13 Projects Cancelled
- The European Wind Industry Requires 200,000 New Workers by 2030
However, this concept is not yet widely adopted in European Union countries. Wind farm renewal is not evenly distributed among member states. For example, over half of all renewal projects are located in Germany. Although Germany is the largest wind energy market in Europe, this also highlights how other countries are not doing enough to reap the benefits of renewal.
For instance, Spain, the second-largest onshore wind energy market in Europe, accounts for only 3 percent of total renewal projects. The connection process to the grid for renewal projects is so complex that developers often prefer to keep older turbines in operation. In France, the problem lies in restrictive regulations on turbine height, which prevent the installation of newer and more efficient onshore wind turbines.
Overall, many member states still lack effective strategies for wind farm renewal.
The importance of renewal also lies in the fact that the oldest wind farms were built in the most favorable locations for wind, which would maximize the benefits of wind energy if they were renewed.
