In solving the baseload elex coal problem, I had to generate enough ammonia to photosynthetically fix all fossil fuel elex CO2 into algal biomass.
One way I looked at was to carpet the Dakotas with wind energy generators to drive conventional water electrolysis to generate hydrogen for the Haber-Bosch process: http://diogenesinstitute.org/index.php/Template:Cost_to_Build_Ammonia_Synthesis_Wind_Generators_($) Yes, this doubles the electrical generation capacity of the US but the storage and transmission medium is ammonia and that's all used up producing algal biomass. You'll notice that if you're allowed to include industrial learning curve, the cost per installed watt comes in at around $3.50. On Sat, Feb 2, 2013 at 1:20 PM, Jed Rothwell <jedrothw...@gmail.com> wrote: > Jouni Valkonen <jounivalko...@gmail.com> wrote: > > >> It must be considered that windmills in Germany are quite old. And >> efficiency has improved quite significantly in recent years. >> > > The equipment wears out in 20 years and it is scrapped and replaced. Only > the towers remain. Fortunately, the tower is the most expensive part, by > far. The replacement equipment is the most efficient available, except that > the older towers only support small turbines with short blades. In some > cases the entire tower is replaced. > > - Jed > >
