Renewable Energy Policy Project (REPP), a "green" group whose board includes a wind-power trade association, now recommends at least partially replacing diesel electric generator-set power with wind turbine power.
The group concedes that replacing diesel gen-sets with wind power isn't always possible, and may involve much higher costs. But in remote diesel-powered areas such as Alaska, native tribes have found it's possible to get a portion of electric power with wind-turbines, REPP's report says, citing two years of experience in three areas.
When the wind isn't blowing, these remote villages can still use diesel power, the REPP report says.
The report repeats the standard litany of charges over diesel emissions problems, but doesn't acknowledge the latest clean-diesel technologies such as particle filters or SCR for both PM and NOx control.
The report claims diesel generators in the U.S. emit as much NOx as all the electric power plants in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, but makes no allowances for the latest clean-diesel technology, which could dramatically change this picture.
Meantime, however, a new, report by Environment News Service shows that wind turbines among native villages in Canada's far north have a very poor record of reliability and come at very high cost. One problem is the gale-force winds that sweep the near-Arctic in winter, wrecking the turbines.
"A windmill installed in Nunavut's capital, Iqaluit, several years ago operated for only hours before breaking down; turbines placed in other communities suffered similar fates," the news service found. As a result, "if Nunavut wants electricity, its near-total dependence on diesel will continue."
No comments:
Post a Comment