Comparative life cycle energy, emission, and economic analysis of 100 kW nameplate wind power generation

This study compares three configurations of wind turbines to produce a nameplate power of 100 kW applying LCA methodology over a lifetime of 25 years. Alternatives under study are: installing twenty Endurance (EN) 5 kW, or five Jacobs (JA) 20 kW, or one Northern Power (NP) 100 kW turbines in the Halkirk region of Alberta, Canada. The comparison has been done taking life cycle energy, environment and economic aspects into consideration. Each parameter has been quantified corresponding to a functional unit (FU) of 1 kWh. Life cycle energy requirement for NP is found to be 133.3 kJ/kWh, which is about 69% and 41% less than EN and JA respectively. Global warming impact from NP is found to be 17.8 gCO 2eq/kWh, which is around 58% and 29% less respective to EN and JA. The acidification (SO 2eq/kWh) and ground level ozone [(VOC + NOx)/kWh] impacts from NP are also found significantly less compared to EN and JA configuration. The difference in relative environmental impacts from configurations is found to be less while performing uncertainty analysis, but does not alter the ranking of configurations. At 10% internal rate of return (IRR), electricity price for NP is 0.21$/kWh, whereas EN and JA prices are 65% and 16% higher respectively. ► Energy payback period is found in the range of 0.6–1.4 year for the turbines. ► GHG emission payback period is found between 0.5 and 1.4 year. ► Acidification and ozone depletion payback periods are found to be less than a week. ► To achieve 10% IRR, electricity must be sold in the range of $0.21–0.61/kWh.