Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

For wind turbine project from design and planning to operational use-takes approximately 4-7 years. An offshore wind turbine project requires about 7-10 years.

https://jmhpower.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-build-a-wind-t...

 help



> For wind turbine project from design and planning to operational use-takes approximately 4-7 years.

That's still better than 11-12 years. How long does a solar farm take?

If residents' opposition is rooted in higher power prices, data centers could just pay extra instead until the new capacity comes online. Seems like a cheap way to pay off opposition.

> An offshore wind turbine project requires about 7-10 years.

Given this article is about Pennsylvania, it'll probably take millions of years.


> How long does a solar farm take?

24–48 months, but for a data center that has to run 24/7 you need to also build a gas power plant.

https://www.pvfarm.io/blog/utility-scale-solar-project-devel...

https://globalenergymonitor.org/research/betting-big-data-ce...


Or use batteries.

Also residential and industrial use will be lower at night. So the existing grid supply may also be enough.


In many places the contraty is true, peak electricity prices are after sunset, during night.

> peak electricity prices are after sunset

The famous evening duck curve, when people go home and cook and turn on heating/cooling appliances. California is able to flatten that out with batteries alone.

https://eticaag.com/battery-storage-and-the-duck-curve-march...

> during night

When everyone's asleep? Serious doubt, please show your sources.


The 2024 NYT infographic also has a nice visualization of how batteries flattened the evening curve as of then: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/05/07/climate/batte...

> When everyone's asleep? Serious doubt, please show your sources.

Lot of industry, especialy heavy industry, chemical plants are running 24/7.

For expensive night prices see electricity prices in Europe, expensive natural gas, coal power production with carbom tax.

https://app.electricitymaps.com/map/zone/DE/live/fifteen_min...


> Lot of industry, especialy heavy industry, chemical plants are running 24/7.

Right...so they also run during the day (that's what 24/7 means), when everyone else is using electricity. At night they're the only users. Which means less demand at night compared to the day.

> see electricity prices in Europe

This article is about Pennsylvania. That isn't in Europe.


> This article is about Pennsylvania

You are right, PJM grid is coal, nuclear and gas dominated.

https://app.electricitymaps.com/map/zone/US-MIDA-PJM/live/fi...


I don't see any nighttime prices there. Where do you see that nighttime rates are higher than daytime rates in Pennsylvania?

PA electricity pricing per hour:

* Highest is 14:00 until 18:00 or 21:00

* Lowest is 23:00 or 24:00 until 6:00

https://electricrates.org/pennsylvania/time-of-use/


So nighttime is cheaper than daytime. As logic would dictate.

Adding to the sibling comment, from your link:

* The longest piece for wind is "Approvals and permits" which takes up to 5 years of the 4-7y.

* The building part "takes approximately 3-6 months" for building wind.

So wind can be built far faster if we're willing to speed up approvals and permitting. And even if corners are cut for approvals/permitting, the worst case for a wind turbine failure is a lot better than a nuclear failure.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: